T cell receptor variants expressed in mesenchymal cells and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns novel polynucleotide transcripts of T cell receptor (TCR) genes as well as amino acid sequences encoded by these transcripts, and their use in the modulation of mesenchymal cell growth. It further relates to the novel proteins, or peptides encoded by these transcripts, and uses thereof. The invention also concerns cDNA molecules encoded by a T cell receptor (TCR) gene, these novel cDNA molecules lacking V region sequences and comprising a constant (C) domain and joining (J) region sequences, and a 5′ intronic J sequence upstream to said J region sequence including an in-frame methionine codon.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of the International Application PCT/IL02/00130 filed Feb. 20, 2002, the entire content of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference thereto, which application claims priority to Israel Patent Application No. 141539 filed Feb. 20, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to polynucleotide transcripts comprising intronic sequences of T cell receptor (TCR) genes expressed in mesenchymal cells, to antisense polynucleotides of these and uses thereof in the modulation of mesenchymal cell growth. It further relates to the novel proteins, or peptides encoded by these transcripts, and uses thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] T Cell Receptors

[0004] Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I gene products are widely expressed by various cell types while MHC class II molecules are expressed constitutively or are inducible in fewer, yet rather diverse cell types, such as dendritic cells, B lymphocytes, macrophages and vascular endothelial cells. By contrast, the T cell receptor complex is thought to be expressed solely by T cells, which further possess complicated signaling cascades as well as specific enzymes engaged in TCR gene rearrangement. Thus, recognition of MHC presented peptides seems to be a highly specific T cell function.

[0005] MHC-restricted T cells express heterodimeric surface protein receptors (αβTCR) that co-localize with up to five additional non-variant membrane receptors (Strominger, 1989; Abbas et al., 1994; Jameson et al., 1995). This TCR complex specifically binds processed peptide antigens associated with MHC molecules. The interactions of TCR with MHC bound peptides on various target cells may have consequences both in terms of T cell proliferation and in activation of effector mechanisms leading to target cell killing, graft rejection, and other biological effects.

[0006] Functional TCR α and β chain genes, which are capable of being expressed as polypeptides, are normally present only in cells of the T lymphocyte lineage. These functional TCR genes are formed by somatic rearrangement of germline gene segments. Each TCR locus consists of variable (V), joining (J), and constant (C) region genes, and the β chain locus contains diversity (D) gene segments. In mice there are 20 to 30 Vβ gene segments that are located 5′ of the two clusters of C and J segments. There is a single Cα gene associated with a large 5′ cluster of up to 50 different J segments and about 75 Vα and Jα exons, which includes the entire TCR δ chain locus. During maturation of T cells in the thymus, the TCR segments are rearranged in a defined order, resulting in the formation of functional TCRα and β genes in which V, D, J and C segments are in close proximity to each other.

[0007] The β chain locus rearranges prior to the α locus. The primary transcripts contain noncoding intronic sequences between the VDJ and C genes, which are later spliced out. The functional T cell receptor is comprised of 2 polypeptides: the α chain is a 40 to 60 kD acidic glycoprotein, and the β chain is a 40 to 50 kD uncharged or basic glycoprotein. The V and C regions of α and β chains form intrachain disulfide bond loops, which might contribute to the formation of a tertiary structure and are present on the cell membrane. The C region contains the transmembrane domain and a short cytoplasmic tail thought to be too small to have intrinsic signal transducing properties.

[0008] T cells (Qian et al., 1993; Yoshikai et al., 1984) as well as B cells (Calnan and Peterlin, 1986) express a series of incomplete transcripts of TCRα and β, that vary in size and structure. These transcripts may be out of frame or their sequence may contain many stop codons. In some cases mRNAs encoding the constant region flanked by an upstream spliced J segment were identified. In one case such a transcript of human TCRβ which contains an in-frame codon for methionine has been reported (Fagioli et al., 1991). However, no evidence for the existence of a protein encoded by these transcripts in T cells has been documented.

[0009] TCR transcripts have also been reported in cell lineages other than T or B-lymphocytes. Thus, TCRα mRNA was identified in murine kidney (Madrenas et al., 1991; Madrenas et al., 1992; Madrenas et al., 1994). A recent study identified in epithelial tumor cells a partial TCRγ chain mRNA, lacking the V region. This mRNA encodes a 7 kDa protein, TARP, which is translated from an alternate reading frame and is therefore not homologous to the TCRγ protein (Essand et al., 1999; Wolfgang et al., 2000). No evidence for TCRαβ or TCRδ transcripts or proteins was found in this study. It is therefore generally accepted that TCRβ transcripts are not found outside of the lymphocyte lineage and that TCR protein expressed at the cell surface is a specific T cell trait.

[0010] Mesenchymal Cells

[0011] Mesenchymal cells play a central role in embryogenesis by directing organogenesis. In the adult organism, tissue remodeling, such as that occurring in wound healing, is initiated by mesenchymal fibroblasts. The study of regulation of hemopoiesis demonstrated that blood cell formation is locally regulated by stromal mesenchyme (Zipori, 1989; Zipori et al., 1989; Zipori, 1990; Weintroub et al., 1996). Indeed, bone marrow-derived primary stroma as well as a variety of mesenchymal cells lines derived from primary bone marrow cultures exhibit the capacity to support hemopoiesis in vitro and, upon transplantation, promote the formation of bone and hemopoietically active tissue in vivo at the site of transplantation. The molecules that mediate the stromal activities have been shown to be a variety of cytokines and adhesion molecules. However, the molecules identified thus far cannot account for the wide spectrum of stromal cell functions and certainly do not explain stroma organization, stem cell renewal and other vital stromal functions.

[0012] Citation of any document herein is not intended as an admission that such document is pertinent prior art, or considered material to the patentability of any claim of the present application. Any statement as to content or a date of any document is based on the information available to the applicant at the time of filing and does not constitute an admission as to the correctness of such a statement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention relates to novel polynucleotide transcripts and encoded proteins, which are short versions of α and β chains of the T cell receptor (TCR) as detailed herein below, and to uses of these molecules.

[0014] According to the present invention it is now disclosed that bone marrow derived stromal mesenchymal cells express unique truncated T cell receptor gene transcripts. Furthermore, these unique transcripts comprise intronic I sequences but lack variable (V) region sequences.

[0015] The present invention relates, in one aspect, to a cDNA molecule encoded by a T cell receptor (TCR) gene in non-hemopoietic cells, particularly in stromal mesenchymal cells, said cDNA molecule lacking V region sequences and comprising a constant (C) domain and joining (J) region sequences, and a 5′ intronic J sequence upstream to said J region sequence including an in-frame methionine codon.

[0016] The novel polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein and the corresponding proteins, polypeptides or peptides encoded by these polynucleotide sequences may be derived from any mammalian species including human genetic material.

[0017] In certain embodiments of the invention, the cDNA molecule is encoded by a mouse TCRβ gene. The joining (J) gene sequence may be selected from, but is not limited to, Jβ2.1 and Jβ2.6.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the joining (J) gene sequence may be Jβ2.1 and said 5′ intronic J sequence including an in-frame methionine codon encodes a peptide of the sequence M E N V S N P G S C I E E G E E R G R I L G S P F L [SEQ ID NO:1].

[0019] In an alternative embodiment, the joining (J) gene sequence is Jβ2.6 and said 5′ intronic J sequence including an in-frame methionine codon codes for a peptide of the sequence M G E Y L A E P R G F V C G V E P L C [SEQ IDNO:2].

[0020] In another embodiment of the invention, the cDNA molecule is encoded by a mouse TCRα gene. In this case, the joining (J) gene sequences are selected from, but not limited to, JαTA31, JαTA46, JαNew05, JαS58, JαNew06, JαNew08, JαLB2A, JαDK1, and JαTA39.

[0021] According to this embodiment of the invention, the cDNA molecule comprises a 5′ intronic J sequence including an in-frame methionine codon selected from the group consisting of:

[0022] (i) the intronic JαTA31 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MAWH; [SEQ ID NO:3]

[0023] (ii) the intronic JαTA46 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MEAGWEVQHWVSDMECLTV; [SEQ ID NO:4]

[0024] (iii) the intronic JαTA46 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MECLTV; [SEQ ID NO:5]

[0025] (iv) the intronic JαNew05 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MTV; [SEQ ID NO:6]

[0026] (v) the intronic JαS58 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MCGSEEVFVVESA; [SEQ ID NO:7]

[0027] (vi) the intronic JαNew06 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MACYQMYFTGRKVDEPSELGSGL [SEQ ID NO:8] ELSYFHTGGSSQAVGLFIENMIST SHFHFQEMQFSIWSFTVLQISAPG SHLVPETERAEGPGVFVEHDI;

[0028] (vii) the intronic JαNew06 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MYFTGRKVDEPSELGSGLELSYFH [SEQ ID NO:9] TGGSSQAVGLFIENMISTSHGHFQE MQFSIWSFTVLQISAPGSHLVPETE RAEGPGVFVEHDI;

[0029] (viii) the intronic JαNew06 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MISTSHGHFQEMQFSLWSFTVLQIS [SEQ ID NO:10] APGSHLVPETERAEGPGVFVEHDI;

[0030] (ix) the intronic JαNew06 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MQFSIWSFTVLQISAPGSH [SEQ ID NO:11] LVPETERAEGPGVFYEHDI;

[0031] (x) the intronic JαNew08 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MWWGLILSASVKFLQRKEILC; [SEQ ID NO:12]

[0032] (xi) the intronic JαLB2A gene sequence coding for the peptide: MVGADLCKGGWHCV; [SEQ ID NO:13]

[0033] (xii) the intronic JαDK1 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MREPVKNLQGLVS; [SEQ ID NO:14]

[0034] (xiii) the intronic JαTA39 gene sequence coding for the peptide:

[0035] M E V Y E L R V T L M E T G R E R S H F V K T S L [SEQ ID NO:15]; and

[0036] (xiv) the intronic JαTA39 gene sequence coding for the peptide: METGRERSHFVKTSL. [SEQ ID NO: 16]

[0037] According to an alternative and more preferred embodiment, the novel intronic sequences and their corresponding peptides may be derived from human genetic material. Any known sequences, such as intronic sequences of the joining segment of human Jβ2.3 gene known in tumor cells (Kimoto, 1998) are explicitly excluded from the claimed novel sequences.

[0038] According to an embodiment of the invention, the cDNA molecule comprises a 5′ intronic J sequence including an in-frame methionine codon consisting of the human intronic Jβ2.3 gene sequence coding for the peptide M G L S A V G R T R A E S G T A E R A A P V F V L G L Q A V [SEQ ID NO:17].

[0039] In another embodiment of the invention, the cDNA molecule is encoded by a human TCRα gene. In this case, the joining (J) gene sequences are selected from, but not limited to, Jα2, Jα3, Jα6, Jα8, Jα9, Jα11, Jα13, Jα14, Jα24, Jα25, Jα31, Jα36, Jα40, Jα41 and Jα44.

[0040] According to additional embodiments of the invention, the cDNA molecule comprises a 5′ intronic J sequence, including an in-frame methionine codon selected from group consisting of:

[0041] 1) the intronic Jα2 gene sequence coding for an in-frame M (It will be appreciated by the skilled artisan that this amino acid will not appear as an isolated amino acid residue but rather refers to a single in frame methionine encoded by the intronic sequence which is part of the larger TCR molecule (J and C regions) described above and which is transcribed in the novel transcripts of the invention.)

[0042] 2) the intronic Jα3 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MLLWDPSGFQQISIKKVISKTLPT; [SEQ ID NO:18]

[0043] 3) the intronic Jα6 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MLPNTMGQLVEGGHMKQVLSKAVLTV; [SEQ ID NO:19]

[0044] 4) the intronic Jα6 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MGQLVEGGHMKQVLSKAVLTV; [SEQ ID NO:20]

[0045] 5) the intronic Jα6 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MKQVLSKAVLTV; [SEQ ID NO:21]

[0046] 6) the intronic Jα8 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MSEC; [SEQ ID NO:22]

[0047] 7) the intronic Jα9 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MAHFVAVQITV; [SEQ ID NO:23]

[0048] 8) the intronic Jα11 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MGICYS; [SEQ ID NO :24]

[0049] 9) the intronic Jα 13 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MKRAGEGKSFCKGRHYSV; (SEQ ID NO:25]

[0050] 10) the intronic Jα14 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MLTTLIYYQGNSVIFVRQHSA; [SEQ ID NO:26]

[0051] 11) the intronic Jα24 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MQLPHFVARLFPHEQFVFIQQLSSLGKPFCRGVCH [SEQ ID NO:27] SV;

[0052] 12) the intronic Jα25 gene sequence coding for the peptide: M (see comment in item 1 above)

[0053] 13) the intronic Jα31 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MGFSKGRKCCG; [SEQ ID NO:28]

[0054] 14) the intronic Jα36 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MKKIWLSRKVFLYWAETL; [SEQ ID NO:29]

[0055] 15) the intronic Jα40 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MGKVHVMPLLFMESKAASINGNIMLVYVETHNTV; [SEQ ID NO:30]

[0056] 16) the intronic Jα40 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MPLLFMESKAASINGNIMLVYVETHNTV; [SEQ ID NO:31]

[0057] 17) the intronic Jα40 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MESKAASINGNIMLVYVETHNTV; [SEQ ID NO:32]

[0058] 18) the intronic Jα 40 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MLVYVETHNTV; [SEQ ID NO:33]

[0059] 19) the intronic Jα41 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MEEGSFIYTIKGPWMTHSLCDCCVIGFQTLALI [SEQ ID NO:34] GIIGEGTWWLLQGVFCLGRTHC;

[0060] 20) the intronic Jα41 gene sequence coding for the peptide: M T H S L C D C C V I G F Q T L A L [SEQ ID NO:35] I G I I G E G T W W L L Q G V F C L G R T H C;

[0061] 21) the intronic Jα44 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MESQATGFCYEASHSV. [SEQ ID NO:36]

[0062] In another aspect, the invention relates to antisense DNA molecules of any of the cDNA molecules of the invention described above.

[0063] The invention further relates to expression vectors comprising the cDNA and antisense molecules of the invention, and to host cells, particularly mammalian cells, comprising said vectors. In one preferred embodiment the host cells are transfected mesenchymal human cells.

[0064] The cDNA of the invention can be used to transfect mesenchymal human cells for inducing mesenchymal cell growth. Thus the invention relates to compositions comprising said transfected mesenchymal human cells for use in disorders requiring induction of mesenchymal cell growth, such as wound healing.

[0065] The invention further relates to a method for inducing mesenchymal cell growth comprising the step of administering to a subject in need thereof transfected mesenchymal human cells comprising a cDNA molecule according to the invention, in an amount effective to induce mesenchymal cell growth. This method is preferably applicable for enhanced wound healing.

[0066] The antisense DNA molecules of the invention can be used to transfect mesenchymal human cells for inhibiting or suppressing mesenchymal cell growth. Thus the invention relates to compositions comprising said transfected mesenchymal human cells for use in disorders requiring inhibition or suppression of mesenchymal cell growth, such as in carcinomas.

[0067] The invention further relates to a method for suppressing mesenchymal cell growth comprising the step of administering to a subject in need thereof an antisense DNA molecule of the invention and/or autologous transfected mesenchymal human cells comprising an antisense DNA molecule of the invention, in an amount effective to suppress mesenchymal cell growth, such as for suppression of carcinomas.

[0068] The invention further relates to a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide of the invention. In one embodiment, said polypeptide is a protein capable of being expressed in mesenchymal cells, either on the cell surface or intracellularly. In one exemplary embodiment the polynucleotide is encoded by the nucleotide sequence depicted in FIG. 1 and the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence depicted in FIG. 1.

[0069] The invention still further relates to a synthetic peptide deduced from an intronic J sequence of a TCR.

[0070] Examples of such peptides derived from non-human animals include but are not limited to: (a) MENVSNPGSCIEEGEERGRILGSPFL; [SEQ ID NO:1] (b) MGEYLAEPRGFVCGVEPLC; [SEQ ID NO:2] (c) MAWH; [SEQ ID NO:3] (d) MEAGWEVQHWVSDMEGLTV; [SEQ ID NO:4] (e) MECLTV; [SEQ ID NO:5] (f) MTV; [SEQ ID NO:6] (g) MCGSEEVFVVESA; [SEQ ID NO:7] (h) MACYQMYFTGRKVDEPSELGSGL [SEQ ID NO:8] ELSYFHTGGSSQAVGLFIENMIST SHGHFQEMQFSIWSFTVLQISAPG SHLVPETERAEGPGVFVEHDI; (i) MYFTGRKVDEPSELGSGLELSYFH [SEQ ID NO:9] TGGSSQAVGLFIENMISTSHGHFQE MQFSIWSFTVLQISAPGSHLVPETE RAEGPGVFVEHDI; (j) MISTSHGHFQEMQFSIWSFTVLQIS [SEQ ID NO:10] APGSHLVPETERAEGPGVFVEHDI; (k) MQFSIWSFTVLQISAPGSH LVPETERAEGPGVFVEHDI; [SEQ ID NO:11] (l) MWWGLILSASVKFLQRKEILC; [SEQ ID NO:12] (m) MVGADLCKGGWHCV; [SEQ ID NO:13] (n) MREPVKNLQGLVS; [SEQ ID NO:14] (o) MEVYELRVTLMETGRERSHFVKTSL; [SEQ ID NO:15] and (p) METGRERSHFVKTSL. [SEQ ID NO:16]

[0071] Examples of useful peptides according to the present invention derived from human sources include but are not limited to: i) MGLSAVGRTRAESGTAERAAPV [SEQ ID NO:17] FVLGLQAV; ii) MLLWDPSGFQQISIKKVISKTL [SEQ ID NO:18] PT; iii) MLPNTMGQLVEGGHMKQVLSKA [SEQ ID NO:19] VLTV; iv) MGQLVEGGHMKQVLSKAVLTV; [SEQ ID NO:20] v) MKQVLSKAVLTV; [SEQ ID NO:21] vi) MSEC; [SEQ ID NO:22] vii) MAHFVAVQITV; [SEQ ID NO:23] viii) MGICYS; [SEQ ID NO:24] ix) MKRAGEGKSFCKGRHYSV; (SEQ ID NO:25] x) MLTTLIYYQGNSVIFVRQHSA; [SEQ ID NO:26] xi) MQLPHFVARLFPHEQFVFIQQL [SEQ ID NO:27] SSLGKPFCRGVCHSV; xii) MGFSKGRKCCG; [SEQ ID NO:28] xiii) MKKIWLSRKVFLYWAETL; [SEQ ID NO:29] xiv) MGKVHVMPLLFMESKAASINGN [SEQ lID NO:30] IMLVYVETHNTV; xv) MPLLFMESKAASINGNIMLVYV [SEQ ID NO:31] ETHNTV; xvi) MESKAASINGNIMLVYVETHNT [SEQ ID NO:32] V; xvii) MLVYVETHNTV; [SEQ ID NO:33] xviii) MEEGSFIYTIKGPWMTHSLCDC [SEQ ID NO:34] CVIGFQTLALIGIIGEGTWWLL QGVFCLGRTHC; xix) MTHSLCDCCVIGFQTLALIGII [SEQ ID NO:35] GEGTWWLLQGVFCLGRTHC; and xx) MESQATGFCYEASHSV. [SEQ ID NO:36]

[0072] In still a further aspect, the invention relates to an antibody that binds to a synthetic peptide having a sequence encoded by intronic sequences of the TCR genes. According to one preferred embodiment the antibodies bind to a synthetic peptide having the sequence LAEPRGFVCGVE [SEQ ID NO:37]. These antibodies are useful as markers of mesenchymal cells, for example for diagnostic purposes and for prognosis of cancer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073]FIG. 1 depicts the nucleotide sequence of the J^(int)J-Cβ₂ mRNA transcript of the stromal/mesenchymal cell line [SEQ ID NO:38], MBA-13, and the deduced amino acid sequence encoded thereby [SEQ ID NO:39]. The cDNA products were obtained from reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analysis using TCR primers and sequenced.

[0074]FIGS. 2A-2F show flow cytometric analysis of J^(int)J-Cβ₂ expression by mesenchymal cells. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) (2E) and different MBA-13 cell strains (1-3; 2A-2C, respectively) were stained with preimmunized (histogram I) or immunized (histogram II) purified antibodies from rabbit serum. The rabbits were immunized with a synthetic segment of SEQ ID NO:2, namely SEQ ID NO:37, with the sequence LAEPRGFVCGVE. As a second antibody, we used Fab FITC conjugated donkey anti-rabbit IgG. Staining with second antibody only gave a histogram shown in histogram III. Cells stained with rabbit polyclonal antibodies to irrelevant peptide 1121 of the sequence RGGGGGRGGLHD, similarly produced and purified, served as negative control (histogram IV). Competition of antibody binding was performed by pre-incubation of the purified immune serum with the specific immunizing peptide SEQ ID NO:37 for 30 min at room temperature (2D, histogram). Competition with irrelevant peptide 1121 served as negative control (data not shown). The results of one experiment, out of three performed, are shown.

[0075]FIG. 3 shows RT-PCR analysis of the novel TCRCβ2 cDNA including an in-frame intronic J sequence designated J^(int)J-Cβ₂, obtained from MBA-13 mesenchymal cell line and fetal primary cell cultures. The cDNA was obtained from total RNA extracted from mouse embryonic fibroblast and different MBA-13 cell strains (1-3). RT-PCR was performed using the following sense pairs: exonic Jβ2.6: 5′-CTATGAACAGTACTTCGGTC-3′; or intronic Jβ2.6: 5′-ATGGGAGAATACCTCGCTG-3′; or 5′-CCCTAAATGGGAGAATACC; and antisense primer Cβ3: 5′-CATCCTATCATCAGGGGGTTCTGTCTGCAA-3′.

[0076] Products of 465 bp and 524 bp were produced, respectively.

[0077]FIG. 4 depicts sequences of all possible versions of mouse TCRαβ containing an intronic 5′ end including an in-frame Met codon as collected from available data bases: the intronic Jβ sequences Jβ2.1 and Jβ2.6, and the intronic Jα sequences JαTA31, JαTA46, JαNew05, JαS58, JαNew06, JαNew08, Jα LB2A, JαDK1 and JαTA39.

[0078]FIG. 5 depicts sequences of all possible versions of the human TCRαβ containing an intronic 5′ end including an in-frame Met codon as collected from available data bases: the intronic Jβ sequence Jβ2.3, and the intronic Jα sequences Jα2, Jα3, Jα6, Jα8, Jα9, Jα11, Jα13, Jα14, Jα24, Jα25, Jα31, Jα36, Jα40, Jα41 and Jα44.

[0079]FIG. 6 shows determination of generation time of different clones of MBA-13 cell line. Eight individual clones were studied by PCR for expression of M-TCR (TCRβ J^(int)-J_(2.6)C). Out of those, four were found to be negative (M-TCR⁻ clones E4, C6, G1, B7) and four were found to be positive (M-TCR⁺ clones C4, D10, B10, B1). Cells were seeded at different concentrations (10³, 5×10³ and 10⁴/ml) and cell growth was determined after 44-46 hours. The population generation time was calculated.

[0080]FIGS. 7A-7C show RT-PCR analysis of TCR expression in different cell lines and primary cell cultures. cDNA was obtained from total RNA extracted from different cell types, as described in the Materials and Methods section hereinafter, and RT-PCR was performed using the following primer pairs: Cβ1 and Cβ2 primers for TCRCβ2 produced a 410 bp product (FIG. 7A); Cα1 and Tm or Cα1 and Cα2 for TCRCα produced a 356 bp or 138 bp product, respectively (FIGS. 7B and 7C).

[0081]FIGS. 8A-8D show mRNA expression of TCRCβ (8A-8B), TCRCα (8C) and CD3ε (8D) mRNA transcripts. Poly A+mRNA, from mesenchymal (MBA-13, AC-6, NIH3T3, thymus and MEF), epithelial (1C8) and endothelial-adipocyte (14F1.1) cell lines, was Northern blotted as described in the Materials and Methods section hereinafter, and probed with the following probes: TCRCβ, TCRCα and CD3ε. For the TCRCβ chain, thymus RNA exhibited 1.3 kb (full-length) and 1.0 kb (truncated) transcripts, while the mesenchymal MBA-13, AC-6 and MEF cells exhibited a 1.1 kb transcript (FIGS. 8A and 8B). For the TCRCα chain, thymus RNA and non-T cell lines exhibited a 1.6 kb transcript (FIG. 8C). For the CD3ε chain, thymus RNA exhibited a 1.5 kb transcript, while non-T cells showed a transcript whose size was slightly larger (FIG. 8D). Hybridization signals for TCRCβ were quantitated by densitometric scanning, and the signal value of MBA-13 was 60 fold less than thymocytes.

[0082]FIG. 9 shows flow cytometric analysis of CD3ε, TCRαβ and TCRγδ antigen expression by MBA-13 cells. MBA-13 cells were stained with FITC-conjugated TCRαβ, CD3ε and with PE-conjugated TCRγδ (solid line). For intracellular staining, cells were fixed and stained with FITC-conjugated TCRαβ using the Cytoperm kit. In all experiments, cells stained with isotype-matched FITC-conjugated rat anti-mouse IgG were also prepared as negative controls (dotted line). The results of a single experiment are shown.

[0083]FIG. 10 Detection of a mesenchymal cell surface antigen reactive with an anti-TCRβ antibody. Flow cytometric analysis of MEF from wild type (solid black line) or from TCR^({square root}−) mutant mice (***solid grey line) stained by the FITC-conjugated hamster anti-mouse TCRβ H57-597 monoclonal antibodies. The dotted line indicates the isotype control.

[0084]FIG. 11 Human TCR Jβ2.3-Cβ. transcript cloned from cDNA of cord blood mononuclear cells and amniotic fluid cells. The cloned transcripts were sequenced and were found to be identical. The lines above the sequence indicate the boundaries of each segment The predicted protein product is shown below the sequence. Bold font indicates an A to G transition that was found in both clones.

[0085]FIG. 12 Expression of GFP-TCR Jβ2.3-Cβ in 293T transfected cells. Western blot analysis. Each lane was loaded with lysate of 5×10⁵ cells, GFP-TCR Jβ2.3-Cβ was detected with Anti-GFP monoclonal antibody JL-8.

[0086]FIG. 13 Recombinant mesenchymal TCRβ (GFP-J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C) in a preTCR-like complex causes apoptotic cell death upon overexpression. (A) Immunofluorescence analysis of cells transfected with cDNA constructs encoding a fusion protein of J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C linked to GFP, together with pTα HA vector. (B) Western blot analysis of extracts from 293T cells transfected with GFP-J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C together with HA-pTα (lane 1). Control GFP and HA vectors (lane 2), GFP vector and HA-pTα0 (lane 3), HA vector and GFP-J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C (lane 4) and untransfected cells (lane 5). Immunoblotting was performed with an anti-GFP monoclonal antibody. The position of the fusion protein, GFP-J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C is indicated (GFP-J^(int)) as is the position of GFP free protein (GFP). (C) Cell cycle flow cytometric analysis of 293T cells transfected with the indicated vectors. The cell cycle analysis of GFP negative cells that were treated with GFP-J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C and pTα but remained untransfected (C-I) serves as a representative control; similar patterns were observed following transfection with empty vectors or separately with GFP-J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C and pTα.

[0087]FIG. 14 Properties of individual clones of the MBA-13 cell line in which tumor formation of MBA-13 clones expressing high (D10, B10, C4) or low (C6, B7) TCRβ was examined following intradermal injection into nude CD1 mice at 10⁶ cells per site.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0088] I. Truncated T Cell Receptor mRNA and Protein Expression

[0089] The present invention relates to new mRNA transcripts and proteins encoded by these transcripts which are short versions of α and β TCR as detailed and to uses of these molecules.

[0090] While studying the interactions of stromal cell lines with thymic T cells, we used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to amplify TCR gene fragments. Unexpectedly, the MBA-13 mesenchymal stromal cell line, derived from mouse bone marrow, was found to consistently express TCRβ constant (Cβ) region, while cDNA from a negative control tissue, i.e. liver, and from several control cell lines such as pre-B cells, plasmacytoma and mastocytoma cells, did not produce PCR products using primers from the TCR gene.

[0091] Further studies with a variety of stromal cell lines, in accordance with the present invention, showed the existence of TCR gene derived mRNAs that encode truncated versions of the TCR consisting of the constant (C) domain, which is identical to that of T cell receptor, a joining (J) region, which may be one of several alternatives, and a 5′ domain consisting of a nucleotide sequence corresponding to an intronic J sequence (again one of several alternatives) including an in-frame codon for methionine. This mRNA lacks V region sequences. One of such molecules, namely a new version of a TCRβ2.6, is shown herein to exist in mesenchymal cells and to encode a cell surface mesenchyrnal protein. Expression on the mRNA level has also been observed in the thymus. Identification of this stromal cell surface TCR-like antigen, by H57-597 antibodies, was further demonstrated in MEF from wild type mice, whereas no similar antigen was observed in MEF from TCRβ^({square root}−) mutant mice, that did not express J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C mRNA, providing genetic support for the existence of this TCR protein in mesenchymal cells.

[0092] We further disclose that these novel truncated TCR variants are functionally involved in mesenchymal cell growth.

[0093] II. Antisense Sequences

[0094] As will be exemplified herein below, the expression or lack of expression of the mesenchymal TCR seems to control mesenchymal cell growth. The invention therefore further relates to the use of the cDNA and antisense molecules of the invention derived from mesenchymal TCR mRNAs for expression in cells and tissues for the purpose of modulating stromal/mesenchymal cell growth.

[0095] For this purpose, the cDNA or antisense molecule is inserted in appropriate vectors such as, but not limited to, the retroviral vectors DCAl and DCMm that have been used in clinical trials in gene therapy (Bordignon et al., 1995). Preferably, the vector containing the cDNA or the antisense molecule, under the control of a suitable promoter such as that cDNA's own promoter, will be used to infect or transfect suitable mammalian, preferably human, most preferably the patient's autologous mesenchymal cells. The genetically modified mesenchymal cells are then administered to a patient in need thereof by an appropriate route and are expressed in the desired site or tissue.

[0096] In order to manipulate the expression of an undesirable gene, it is necessary to produce antisense RNA in a cell. To this end, the complete or partial cDNA of an undesirable gene in accordance with the present invention is inserted into an expression vector comprising a promoter. The 3′ end of the cDNA is thereby inserted adjacent to the 3′ end of the promoter, with the 5′ end of the cDNA being separated from the 3′ end of the promoter by said cDNA. Upon expression of the cDNA in a cell, an antisense RNA is therefore produced which is incapable of coding for the protein. The presence of antisense RNA in the cell reduces the expression of the cellular (genomic) copy of the undesirable gene.

[0097] For the production of antisense RNA, the complete cDNA may be used. Alternatively, a fragment thereof may be used, which is preferably between about 9 and 1,000 nucleotides in length, more preferably between 15 and 500 nucleotides, and most preferably between 30 and 150 nucleotides.

[0098] The fragment is preferably corresponding to a region within the 5′ half of the cDNA, more preferably the 5′ region comprising the 5′ untranslated region and/or the first exon region, and most preferably comprising the ATG translation start site. Alternatively, the fragment may correspond to DNA sequence of the 5′ untranslated region only.

[0099] A synthetic oligonucleotide may be used as antisense oligonucleotide. The oligonucleotide is preferably a DNA oligonucleotide. The length of the antisense oligonucleotide is preferably between 9 and 150, more preferably between 12 and 60, and most preferably between 15 and 50 nucleotides. Suitable antisense oligonucleotides that inhibit the production of the protein of the present invention from its encoding mRNA can be readily determined with only routine experimentation through the use of a series of overlapping oligonucleotides similar to a “gene walking” technique that is well-known in the art. Such a “walking” technique as well known in the art of antisense development can be done with synthetic oligonucleotides to walk along the entire length of the sequence complementary to the mRNA in segments on the order of 9 to 150 nucleotides in length. This “gene walking” technique will identify the oligonucleotides that are complementary to accessible regions on the target mRNA and exert inhibitory antisense activity.

[0100] Alternatively, an oligonucleotide based on the coding sequence of a protein capable of binding to an undesirable gene or the protein encoded thereby can be designed using Oligo 4.0 (National Biosciences, Inc.). Antisense molecules may also be designed to inhibit translation of an mRNA into a polypeptide by preparing an antisense which will bind in the region spanning approximately −10 to +10 nucleotides at the 5′ end of the coding sequence.

[0101] Modifications of oligonucleotides that enhance desired properties are generally used when designing antisense oligonucleotides. For instance, phosphorothioate bonds are used instead of the phosphoester bonds that naturally occur in DNA, mainly because such phosphorothioate oligonucleotides are less prone to degradation by cellular enzymes. Preferably, 2′-methoxyribonucleotide modifications in 60% of the oligonucleotide is used. Such modified oligonucleotides are capable of eliciting an antisense effect comparable to the effect observed with phosphorothioate oligonucleotides.

[0102] Therefore, the preferred antisense oligonucleotide of the present invention has a mixed phosphodiester-phosphorothioate backbone. Preferably, 2′-methoxyribonucleotide modifications in about 30% to 80%, more preferably about 60%, of the oligonucleotide are used.

[0103] In the practice of the invention, antisense oligonucleotides or antisense RNA may be used. The length of the antisense RNA is preferably from about 9 to about 3,000 nucleotides, more preferably from about 20 to about 1,000 nucleotides, most preferably from about 50 to about 500 nucleotides.

[0104] In order to be effective, the antisense oligonucleotides of the present invention must travel across cell membranes. In general, antisense oligonucleotides have the ability to cross cell membranes, apparently by uptake via specific receptors. As the antisense oligonucleotides are single-stranded molecules, they are to a degree hydrophobic, which enhances passive diffusion through membranes. Modifications may be introduced to an antisense oligonucleotide to improve its ability to cross membranes. For instance, the oligonucleotide molecule may be linked to a group which includes a partially unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon chain and one or more polar or charged groups such as carboxylic acid groups, ester groups, and alcohol groups. Alternatively, oligonucleotides may be linked to peptide structures, which are preferably membranotropic peptides. Such modified oligonucleotides penetrate membranes more easily, which is critical for their function and may, therefore, significantly enhance their activity.

[0105] III. Introduction of Proteins, Peptides, and DNA into Cells

[0106] The present invention provides proteins encoded by the truncated TCR genes, peptides derived therefrom and antisense DNA molecules based on the TCR transcripts. A therapeutic or research-associated use of these tools necessitates their introduction into cells of a living organism or into cultured cells. For this purpose, it is desired to improve membrane permeability of peptides, proteins and antisense molecules. The same principle, namely, derivatization with lipophilic structures, may also be used in creating peptides and proteins with enhanced membrane permeability. For instance, the sequence of a known membranotropic peptide may be added to the sequence of the peptide or protein. Further, the peptide or protein may be derivatized by partly lipophilic structures such as the above-noted hydrocarbon chains, which are substituted with at least one polar or charged group. For example, lauroyl derivatives of peptides have been described in the art. Further modifications of peptides and proteins include the oxidation of methionine residues to thereby create sulfoxide groups and derivatives wherein the relatively hydrophobic peptide bond is replaced by its ketomethylene isoester (COCH₂) have been described. It is known to those of skill in the art of protein and peptide chemistry these and other modifications enhance membrane permeability.

[0107] Another way of enhancing membrane permeability is to make use of receptors, such as virus receptors, on cell surfaces in order to induce cellular uptake of the peptide or protein. This mechanism is used frequently by viruses, which bind specifically to certain cell surface molecules. Upon binding, the cell takes the virus up into its interior. The cell surface molecule is called a virus receptor. For instance, the integrin molecules CAR and AdV have been described as virus receptors for Adenovirus. The CD4, GPR1, GPR15, and STRL33 molecules have been identified as receptors/coreceptors for HV.

[0108] By conjugating peptides, proteins or oligonucleotides to molecules that are known to bind to cell surface receptors, the membrane permeability of said peptides, proteins or oligonucleotides will be enhanced. Examples of suitable groups for forming conjugates are sugars, vitamins, hormones, cytokines, transferrin, asialoglycoprotein, and the like molecules. Low et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,921 describes the use of these molecules for the purpose of enhancing membrane permeability of peptides, proteins and oligonucleotides, and the preparation of said conjugates.

[0109] Low and coworkers further teach that molecules such as folate or biotin may be used to target the conjugate to a multitude of cells in an organism, because of the abundant and nonspecific expression of the receptors for these molecules.

[0110] The above use of cell surface proteins for enhancing membrane permeability of a peptide, protein or oligonucleotide of the invention may also be used in targeting the peptide, protein or oligonucleotide of the present invention to certain cell types or tissues. For instance, if it is desired to target neural cells, it is preferable to use a cell surface protein that is expressed more abundantly on the surface of those cells.

[0111] The protein, peptide or oligonucleotide of the invention may therefore, using the above-described conjugation techniques, be targeted to mesenchymal cells. For instance, if it is desired to enhance mesenchymal cell growth in order to augment autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation or wound healing, then the TCR variant gene could be inserted into mesenchymal cells as a form of gene therapy. In this embodiment, local application of the cells containing the cDNA molecule can be used to induce mesenchymal cell growth thus enhancing the wound healing process

[0112] In contrast, if it is desired to inhibit mesenchymal cell growth, as in the case of a tumor. Therefore, mesenchymal cells of the tumor can be transfected with the antisense cDNA and then be used for treatment of localized solid tumors, to achieve regression of the tumor mesenchyme and subsequent regression of the tumor.

[0113] The proteins encoded by the mRNAs of the invention are cell surface receptors of mesenchymal cells and may probably interact with ligands presented by neighboring hemopoietic or non-hemopoietic cells. Thus, in bound or soluble form, these proteins or the peptides derived therefrom, may have modulatory effects on cells that bear said ligands.

[0114] IV. Antibodies

[0115] The present invention also comprehends antibodies specific for the proteins encoded by the truncated TCR transcripts which is part of the present invention as discussed above. The proteins and peptides of the invention may be used as immunogens for production of antibodies that may be used as markers of mesenchymal cells. Such an antibody may be used for diagnostic purposes to identify the presence of any such naturally occurring proteins. Such antibody may be a polyclonal antibody or a monoclonal antibody or any other molecule that incorporates the antigen-binding portion of a monoclonal antibody specific for such a protein. Such other molecules may be a single-chain antibody, a humanized antibody, an F(ab) or F(ab′)₂ fragment, a chimeric antibody, an antibody to which is attached a label, such as fluorescent or radioactive label, or an immunotoxin in which a toxic molecule is bound to the antigen binding portion of the antibody. The examples are intended to be non-limiting. However, as long as such a molecule includes the antigen-binding portion of the antibody, it will be expected to bind to the protein and, thus, can be used for the same diagnostic purposes for which a monoclonal antibody can be used.

[0116] V. Pharmaceutical Compositions

[0117] These compositions are for use by injection, topical administration, or oral uptake. Preferred uses of the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention by injection are subcutaneous injection, intravenous injection, and intramuscular injection. Less convenient routes of administration may include intraperitoneal, intradural, intra-thecal administration or intra-arterial administration when required.

[0118] The pharmaceutical composition of the invention generally comprises a buffering agent, an agent which adjusts the osmolarity thereof, and optionally, one or more carriers, excipients and/or additives as known in the art, e.g., for the purposes of adding flavors, colors, lubrication, or the like to the pharmaceutical composition.

[0119] Carriers are well known in the art and may include starch and derivatives thereof, cellulose and derivatives thereof, e.g., microcrystalline cellulose, xanthan gum, and the like. Lubricants may include hydrogenated castor oil and the like.

[0120] A preferred buffering agent is phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBS), which solution is also adjusted for osmolarity.

[0121] A preferred pharmaceutical formulation is one lacking a carrier. Such formulations are preferably used for administration by injection, including intravenous injection.

[0122] The preparation of pharmaceutical compositions is well known in the art and has been described in many articles and textbooks.

[0123] Additives may also be selected to enhance uptake of the antisense oligonucleotide across cell membranes. Such agents are generally agents that will enhance cellular uptake of double-stranded DNA molecules. For instance, certain lipid molecules have been developed for this purpose, including the transfection reagents DOTAP (Boehringer Mannheim), Lipofectin, Lipofectam, and Transfectam, which are available commercially. The antisense oligonucleotide of the invention may also be enclosed within liposomes.

[0124] The preparation and use of liposomes, e.g., using the above-mentioned transfection reagents, is well known in the art. Other methods of obtaining liposomes include the use of Sendai virus or of other viruses.

[0125] The above-mentioned cationic or nonionic lipid agents not only serve to enhance uptake of oligonucleotides into cells, but also improve the stability of oligonucleotides that have been taken up by the cell.

[0126] Having now generally described the invention, the same will be more readily understood through reference to the following examples, which is provided by way of illustration and are not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

EXAMPLES

[0127] Human Cell Culture

[0128] 293T cell line were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagles medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) Beth Haemek, Israel), 20 mM L-glutamine, 60 μg/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin and 50 mg/L Kanamycin. Amniotic fluid cells were grown in AMF medium (Biological industries, Beit Haemek, Israel).

[0129] GFP-TCRJ2.3-Cβ Expression Vector

[0130] The cDNA of human TCR Jβ2.3-Cβ was amplified from cDNA from amniotic fluid cells and from cord blood mononuclear cells using the sense primer 5≧CCGGAATTCCATGGGGCTCTCAGCGGTGG and antisense primer 5′CGCGGA TCCCTAGCCTCTGGAATCCTTTCTC and ligated into EcoRI and BamHI digested and calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase-treated pEGFPC1 (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). DNA sequence analysis of the GFP-TCR Jβ2.3-Cβ confirmed the intended reading frame. Proceeding from the N to C terminus, the resulting fusion protein consists of GFP, a linker sequence of 10 amino acids, and TCR J2.3-Cβ.

[0131] Transfections

[0132] 293T cells were plated at 70% confluency in 6 well plates and transfected with 1.6 μg of GFP-TCR Jβ2.3-Cβ construct using the calcium phosphate transfection method.

[0133] Western Blot Analysis and Fluorescence Analysis

[0134] For immunoblot analysis, 24 hrs after transfection, 5×10⁵ 293T cells were lyzed on ice in Tris pH 8 20 mM containing 1% Triton, 140 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, 1 mM EGTA, 1.5 mM MgCl₂, and 1 mM sodium vanadate. Cell lysates were clarified by centrifugation at 15,000 g for 10 min at 4° C., and boiled after addition of SDS-sample buffer (5% glycerol, 2% SDS, 62.5 mM Tris-HCL pH 6.8, 2% 2-mercaptoethanol, 0.01% bromophenol blue).

[0135] Extracts were subjected to 12% SDS-PAGE, blotted and probed with anti-GFP monoclonal antibody JL-8 (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.) and visualized using a secondary antibody, goat anti-mouse-HRP (Sigma). Chemiluminescent signals were generated by incubation with the ECL reagent and the gels were exposed to X-ray film. Cell lines and culture

[0136] Several cell lines used herein in the examples originated in the inventors' laboratory or were obtained from other sources: mesenchymal MBA-13, MBA-15, 14F1.1, NIH/3T3, AC-6, AC-11 and FBMD-1 cells; control C2C12, 1C8, MPC-11 and AB-8 cells; and MC/9 mastocytoma cells.

[0137] The cell lines were cultured by standard procedures such as in DMEM containing 10% FCS or with RPMI 1640 (GIBCO) containing 7% FCS, 2 mM L-glutamine, 5×10⁻⁵ M 2-mercaptoethanol and 1 mM sodium pyruvate. Other cell lines were cultured in DMEM containing 10% FCS and D-9 medium containing IL-3 and IL-4, or cultured in DMEM containing 20% FCS.

[0138] Primary Cell Culture

[0139] (i) Bone marrow: Mouse bone marrow cells were obtained from femur and tibia of 1-2 week old female C57BL/6 mice. Bone marrow cells were removed aseptically by flushing culture medium through the marrow cavity using a 1 ml syringe fitted with a 27-gauge needle. 1×10⁷ cells/ml were seeded in DMEM with 20% FCS (Bio Lab, Israel) and cultured for 4-5 days at 37° C. and 5% CO₂ atmosphere. The plates were washed and covered with fresh culture medium. After 3 weeks, a monolayer was formed. The cells were passaged monthly at a split ratio of 1:10 using 0.5% trypsin (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) containing 0.02% EDTA.

[0140] (ii) Fetal fibroblast: Mouse embryos were cut into small pieces in PBS solution and treated with 0.5% trypsin and 0.02% EDTA at 37° C. for 15 minutes. The supernatant was collected and treated again with trypsin for 30 minutes. The cell suspension obtained was then washed a few times, resuspended in DMEM containing 10% FCS to a final concentration of 10⁶ cells/ml, and cultured for 4-5 days at 37° C. and 5% CO₂ atmosphere. When a fibroblast monolayer was formed, it was trypsinized for 5 minutes, and the cells were washed and resuspended as indicated before. This cell suspension (2×10⁵ cells/ml) was cultured again for 4-5 days and then collected.

[0141] (iii) Thymus and liver cells were obtained from Balb/c mice, 6-10 weeks old.

[0142] Proliferation Assay

[0143] Stromal cells were seeded at 1×10⁵ cells/ml on a 96-well round-bottom microplate (Falcon, Calif.) for 48 hours at 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere of 10% CO₂ in air. The subconfluent cultures were supplemented with the relevant antibodies and incubated for an additional 48 hours. The cells were then pulsed with 1 μCi/well of [³H]-thymidine (Nuclear Research Center, Negev, Israel). After 24 hours, the cells were harvested, and the incorporation of tritiated thymidine was determined. Briefly, the supernatants were aspirated, the cell monolayer was washed repeatedly with PBS to remove excess thymidine and extracted with 0.1N NaOH 0.2 ml/well. A volume of 0.1 ml of the cell extract was added to 3 ml scintillation liquid/vial (Quicksafe, A. Zinsser, Germany) and the radioactivity was counted in a liquid scintillation analyzer (1600TR, Packard, Conn.). [³H]-thymidine incorporation reflecting the DNA synthesis was expressed as the stimulation index and was calculated as the ratio of the mean cpm of the experimental samples to the mean cpm of the control sample. Untreated cells or cells treated with irrelevant antibody served as control.

[0144] Antibodies

[0145] The following monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were used in the experiments: fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-mAb anti-CD3ε (clone 145-2C11); low azide no endotoxin or FITC-conjugated hamster anti-mouse TCRβ (clone H57-597); phycoerythrin (PE)-conjugated hamster anti-mouse TCRγδ (clone GL-3). All antibodies were purchased from PharMingen, San Diego, Calif. Goat anti-human IgM (Kalestab, Denmark), FITC-conjugated goat anti-mouse (Sigma, Israel) and mouse anti-rat IgG (Jackson Immunoresearch Labs, West Grove, Pa.) served as control antibodies. Hybridoma supernatants of anti-TCRβ (clone H57-597) and anti-CD3ε (clone 145-2C11) were used for activity assays. FITC-conjugated goat anti-hamster IgG was purchased from Jackson Immunoresearch Labs. Anti-rabbit FITC Fab fragments was used as a second antibody to detect staining with rabbit polyclonal anti-peptide 1121 and anti-Jβ2.6 [SEQ ID NO: 37] peptide antibodies.

[0146] Flow Cytometry

[0147] Cells were washed with PBS without Ca⁺² and Mg⁺² containing 0.02% sodium azide and incubated for 30 minutes at 4° C. with FITC-conjugated anti-mouse CD3ε (clone 145-2C11) or FITC-conjugated TCRβ (clone H57-597) or anti-Jβ2.6 [SEQ ID NO: 37] peptide antibodies. As second antibody for anti-Jβ2.6 [SEQ ID NO: 37] peptide antibody, FITC-conjugated donkey anti-rabbit IgG was used (Jackson Immunoresearch Labs). For intracellular staining, cells were fixed and stained with TCRβ using the Cytoperm kit (Serotec, UK). In all experiments, cells stained with isotype-matched control immunoglobulins were also prepared as negative controls for the surface and the intracellular staining. After washing with PBS, cells were analyzed for fluorescence with a FACScan (Becton Dickinson) with logarithmic intensity scales. In most cases, 5×10³ cells were scored using Lysis II software (Becton Dickinson).

[0148] Immunofluorescence

[0149] Stromal cells were seeded at 10⁵ cells/ml in chamber slides (Labtec slides: Nunc, USA) (400 μl/well) and incubated for 24 hours at 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere of 10% CO₂ in air. The slides were washed in PBS (without Mg⁺² and Ca⁺²) and were either unfixed or fixed in 3.7% paraformaldehyde in PBS for 20 minutes and permeabilized with 0.5% Triton X-100 in fixing solution for 2 minutes. The cells were washed with PBS for 5 minutes and blocked with normal sheep serum for 45 minutes and then stained with the relevant antibodies for 30 minutes. After incubation, the cells were washed with PBS, stained with the fluorescent second antibody for 30 minutes, washed, embedded in 50% glycerol in PBS and cover slips were mounted and sealed. Fluorescence was examined using a Zeiss fluorescence microscope (Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany).

[0150] RNA Isolation and Northern Blotting

[0151] Total RNA was extracted by Tri-Reagent (Molecular Research Center, Cincinnati, Ohio). For Northern blotting, poly A+mRNA was obtained using oligo dT magnetic columns (Promega, Madison, Wis.). 5-30 μg mRNA was Northern blotted and probed using standard techniques with probes for the following regions: TCR Cα, TCR Cα and CD3ε. The probes were labeled with [³²P]-dCTP by random priming (Prime-a-Gene, Promega, Madison, Wis.), prehybridized at 42° C. in 50% deionized formamide, 2×Denhardt's solution, 0.1% SDS, 5×SSPE, 100 mg/ml boiled salmon sperm DNA. Hybridization was performed at the same conditions with 1×10⁶ cpm/ml labeled probe. Filters were washed twice with 1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 42° C. for 30 minutes and then washed twice with 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 55° C. for 30 minutes.

[0152] PCR Analysis

[0153] Total RNAs were reverse transcribed to cDNAs by incubating purified total RNA at 37° C. for 60 minutes in the presence of MMLV reverse transcriptase. The primer pairs used for CD3ε were as follows: sense primer, 5′-TGCCCTCTAGACAGTGACG-3′; and antisense primer 5′-CTTCCGGTTCCGGTTCGGA-3′. The TCR derived primer pairs used were as follows: Cβ5: 1′-ATGTGACTCCACCCAAGGTCTCCTTGTTTG-3′; Cβ5: 2′-AAGGCTACCCTCGTGTGCTTGGCCAGGGGC-3′; Cβ5: 3′-CATCCTATCATCAGGGGGTTCTGTCTGCAA-3′; Cβ5: 5′-CATCCTATCATCAGGGGGTTCTGTCTGCAA-3′; Cβ5: 6′-TTCAGAGTCAAGGTGTCAACGAGGAAGG-3′; Cα1: 5′-AAGATCCTCGGTCTCAGGACAGCACC-3′; Cα2: 5′-ACTGTGCTGGACATGAAAGCTATGGATTCC-3′; or Tm: 5′-GATTTAACCTGCTCATGACG-3′.

[0154] For PCR, thirty cycles of amplification were carried out using the following conditions for each cycle: denaturation at 94° C. for 5 minutes, annealing at 58° C. for 2 minutes, and extension at 72° C. for 2 minutes.

[0155] Rapid Amplification of 5′ and 3′ Ends (RACE)

[0156] 5′ and 3′ RACE was performed for the cloning of the TCR Cβ chain of MBA-13 cells using the Marathon cDNA amplification kit (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). Adaptor ligated cDNA was prepared from MBA-13 mRNA according to manufacturers' directions. Hotstart-Touchdown PCR was performed as follows: 94° C. for 5 minutes (x1 cycle), 94° C. for 1 minute and 74° C. for 3 minutes (x5 cycles), 94° C. for 1 minute and 70° C. for 3 minutes (x15 cycles), 94° C. for 1 minute and 68° C. for 3 minutes (x10 cycles). Specific primers were used paired to the adaptor primer of the kit. The RACE products were cloned into the pGEM-T plasmid (Promega) and transfected into E. coli JM109 cells (Promega). DNA was purified and sequenced using an automated DNA sequencer (Applied Biosystems 373A, New England Nuclear, Boston, Mass.).

[0157] Statistics

[0158] Data are presented as the mean ± standard error of the mean. Student's t-test was performed to determine significance.

Example 1

[0159] Jβ2.6 Nucleotide Sequence

[0160]FIG. 1 shows the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA that was cloned from the stromal/mesenchymal cell line, MBA-13, that shows a Jβ2.6 flanked by an intronic J (J^(int)J2.6-C).

[0161] The J^(int)-JD2.6-C mRNA encodes a putative protein that according to available literature (Irving, 1998) should be capable of being expressed on the cell surface. We therefore raised polyclonal rabbit antibodies by immunizing with a synthetic peptide sequence based on the Jβ2.6 intronic peptidic sequence [SEQ ID NO:2] as follows LAEPRGFVCGVE [SEQ ID NO:37]. For immunization, peptide SEQ ID NO:37 was conjugated to KLH and was injected into 2 New Zealand rabbits using Complete Freund's Adjuvant for the first immunization and Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant for additional boosts. Pre-immune serum was collected before the first immunization and immune sera were collected after the additional boosts. Reactivity of the serum with the peptide SEQ ID NO:37 was tested by ELISA. The serum was purified on a peptide affinity column (eluted in 0.1M glycine pH 2.5 and dialyzed to PBS). The purified anti-peptide SEQ ID NO:37 antibody was also tested by ELISA.

Example 2

[0162] Cytometric Analysis of J^(int)J-Cβ₂ Surface Protein Expression and mRNA Transcription

[0163] The immunized rabbit serum was processed by isolating the specific antibodies using a column of the immunizing peptide SEQ ID NO:37. These antibodies were then tested for their ability to recognize various cell types: MBA-13 cell strains 1, 2 and 3, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) and thymus cells as shown in FIG. 2. Whereas thymus cells were not stained (FIG. 2F), as judged by FACS analysis, two strains of the MBA-13 mesenchymal cell lines showed prominent cell surface staining by the polyclonal antibodies (FIGS. 2A, 2B). On the other hand, one clone of the MBA-13 cell line was negative (FIG. 2C). A striking finding is that we found correlation between the expression of the J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C mRNA (FIG. 3) and the reactivity of the antiserum with the stromal cells. Thus, the two cell strains that expressed J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C mRNA, also reacted with the antibody whereas one of the strains that did not show any J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C mRNA, also did not give any signal in flow cytometric analysis using the antibodies to the intronic peptide [SEQ ID NO:37] (FIG. 2C, clone 3).

[0164] The specificity of the detection of the antigen by the antiserum was further verified using competition assays with the soluble immunizing peptide that reduced the ability of the antiserum to stain the cells (FIG. 2D). This strongly supports the conclusion that J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C protein is present on the surface of the MBA-13 cells. It is noteworthy that thymocytes do express J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C on the mRNA level but are not reactive with the antibody (FIGS. 2F and 3). This in fact should be expected since most thymocytes express productively rearranged TCRβ and suppression of the expression of other transcripts should occur. On the other hand, in mesenchymal cells that lack recombinases, no complete TCRβ molecules are formed, which allows the expression of the J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C protein.

[0165] The above findings were made using a permanent cell line (MBA-13) derived in our laboratory. We further aimed to find out whether primary mesenchymal cells also express the J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C mRNA. As shown in FIG. 2E and FIG. 3, primary fibroblasts from mouse embryo clearly express the gene both on the protein and mRNA levels.

Example 3

[0166] Murine and Human Truncated TCRαβ Sequences

[0167] A database survey indicated that among the seven Jβs known, also Jβ2.1 can theoretically encode a molecule such as J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C. Indeed, PCR analysis using appropriate primers detected this mRNA in the MBA-13 cell line. Among the 47 possible Jαs, 9 could theoretically have a composition of intronic J with an in-frame methionine codon. These sequences are shown in FIG. 4 and include: JαTA31, JαTA46, JαNew05, JαS58, JαNew06, JαNew08, JαLB2A, JαDK1 and JαTA39. Preliminary PCR analysis indicates that at least some of these versions of the a chain also exist. In addition there are 3 possible Jα molecules initiated by a methionine from within the exonic coding region (data not shown).

[0168] The following are the human sequences according to the present invention. In this example, the methionine initiating the open reading frame is shown in bold italics, the amino acids that are translated from an intronic sequence upstream to the J segments are shown in italics and the J segments are shown in bold, three dots denote the beginning of the C1 segments (FIG. 5).

Example 4 Subcloning of MBA-13 Cell Line

[0169] According to the present invention, the uncloned stromal/mesenchymal mouse MBA-13 cell line was subdivided into subclones that either express or do not express the molecules of interest, i.e. the J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C protein and mRNA, on the mRNA and antigenic protein levels. We therefore single cell cloned MBA-13 cells and obtained 8 different clonal populations by standard procedures. Out of these, 4 expressed the J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C protein (M-TCR⁺ clones C4, D10, B10, B1) and 4 were negative (M-TCR⁻ clones E4, C6, G1, B7).

[0170]FIG. 6 shows that all the cells positive for J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C had a population generation time (doubling time) of 15 hrs or less, which is considered very fast for mesenchymal cells. On the other hand, although the negative clones showed variable results, all grew much slower and 2 clones had a very slow growth rate with doubling time between 36-38 hrs. It is therefore implied that the expression of the gene of interest correlates with fast growth rate and that lack of expression results in retarded growth. These results are supported by preliminary data indicating that antibodies to TCRβ constant region interfere with the growth of mesenchymal cells.

Example 5

[0171] RT-PCR Analysis of TCR Expression

[0172] It is known in the art from T cell research that TCRβ can operate as a functional receptor and can cause apoptosis in the cells in which it is expressed. However, when pTα is coexpressed with TCRβ, pTα augments the function of TCRβ. In order to check if this was the case in our system, we examined the expression of the pTα in the mesenchymal cells. Indeed pTα is expressed by the MBA-13 cell line as judged by RT-PCR Thus, these mesenchymal cells seem to express a pTα/J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C complex which is structurally related to a reported TCR complex containing pTα and an experimentally truncated TCR (Irving, 1998). The latter complex has been shown to be sufficient for intracellular signaling suggesting that the complex in MBA-13 is likely to be effective in signal transduction.

[0173] The study of expression of TCR was extended to a variety of stromal cell lines derived by the laboratory of the present inventors or obtained from other laboratories, as well as to primary stromal cells from the bone marrow and primary mesenchymal cells from mouse embryos. Specific stromal cell clones, but not all clones tested, expressed TCRβ. Similarly, TCRα was consistently found in particular stromal cell clones (e.g., the MBA-13 stromal cell line expressed both Cβ and Cα, whereas the MBA-15 stromal cell line did not express Cβ but was positive for Cα (FIGS. 7A-7C). Similar TCR amplified PCR products were observed in cultured primary embryo fibroblasts (FIGS. 7A-7C), indicating that the expression of TCR was not a bizarre characteristic of in vitro passaged stromal cell lines. Rather, TCR gene expression, as judged by PCR amplification, was common to primary mesenchymal and in vitro passaged cells of this origin. Indeed, bone marrow mesenchymal cells, seeded in vitro and selected by passaging to remove contaminating hemopoietic cells, also showed clear TCRαβ fragments of the expected sizes in PCR analysis. TCR gene expression was not found in B cells, mast cells or liver cells (FIGS. 7A-7B).

Example 6

[0174] mRNA Expression of TCRCβ, TCRCα, and CD3ε

[0175] As shown in FIGS. 8A-8B, TCRαβ mRNA was detected in the MBA-13 stromal cell line and also in primary fetal and bone marrow fibroblast cultures. The sizes of the TCRα transcript corresponded to that found in thymic T cells, whereas the size of the mRNA detected by the TCRβ probe was about 1.1 kb as compared to 1.0 kb and 1.3 kb detected in the thymus. Of significance is that this shorter mRNA version was consistently found in different stromal cell lines, as well as in primary mesenchymal cells. A 1.0 kb mRNA species has been reported in bone marrow-derived immature precursor T cells. The relationship between the mesenchymal 1.1 kb mRNA species and that found in early bone marrow thymocytes remains to be examined.

[0176] The above data thus demonstrate that cells of mesenchymal origin do express TCR receptor complex on the mRNA level. In addition to expression of TCRαβ mRNA, expression of CD3ε, which is an essential component of the functional TCR complex, was observed (FIG. 8D). Both the size of the PCR amplified product and the mRNA detected by Northern blotting deviated slightly from the sizes detected in control T cell-derived cDNA.

Example 7

[0177] Cytometric Analysis of CD3ε, TCRαβ and TCRγδ Antigen Expression by MBA-13 Cells

[0178] Flow cytometric analysis of stromal cells using an antibody to TCRαβ constant region indicated that 34% of the MBA-13 cell population was stained at low intensity fluorescence (FIG. 9). These stromal cells were negative when probed with antibodies to TCRγδ. Importantly, no TCRαβ was observed in cell lines that did not show TCRαβ mRNA. These data substantiate the above described results using antibodies to the intronic sequence of Jβ2.6.

Example 8

[0179] Cytometric Analysis of a Mesenchymal Cell Surface Antigen Reactive with an Anti-TCRβ Antibody

[0180] Furthermore, sequencing data of the PCR products from the TCRβ transcribed in mesenchymal cells confirmed that the TCRβ contains the entire C region as found in T cells. To test whether mesenchymal cells express a TCR protein, we used the H57-597 monoclonal antibody that identifies the C region. Flow cytometric analysis of MEF using this antibody demonstrated that MEF cells from wild type mice are clearly positive and express this antigen on the cell surface (FIG. 10). By contrast, no similar antigen was observed in MEF from TCRβ^({square root}−) mutant mice, that do not express TCRβ mRNA, providing genetic support for the existence of this TCR protein in mesenchymal cells.

Example 9

[0181] Human TCR GFP-TCR Jβ2.3-Cβ

[0182] More support from a human system is gained from the cloning of the human TCR Jβ2.3-Cβ transcript from cDNA of cord blood mononuclear cells and amniotic fluid cells (FIG. 11). The cloned transcripts were sequenced and were found to be identical. The lines above the sequence indicate the boundaries of each segment. The predicted protein product is shown below the sequence. Bold font indicates an A to G transition that was found in both clones.

Example 10

[0183] Expression of GFP-TCR Jβ2.3-Cβ and Recombinant Mesenchymal TCRβ (GFP-J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C)

[0184] As an extension of the results obtained above, the expression of the fusion protein, GFP-TCR Jβ2.3-Cβ, in 293T transfected cells was determined by Western blot analysis. Each lane was loaded with lysate of 5×10⁵ cells. The GFP-TCR Jβ2.3-Cβ was detected with anti-GFP monoclonal antibody JL-8 (FIG. 12).

[0185] Next, we examined the results of overexpression of J^(int)-Jβ2.6-Cβ. A cDNA construct encoding a fusion protein of J^(int)-Jβ2.6-C N-terminally linked to green fluorescence protein (GFP) was transfected along with pTα into human 293T cells (FIG. 13). In this manner, overexpression of recombinant J^(int)-Jβ2.6-Cβ occurred in delicate dots which appeared to be cell membrane associated (FIG. 13A). Transfection with GFP-J^(int)-Jβ2.6-Cβ alone was insufficient in producing a similar dotted expression pattern and resulted in poor expression of the protein (compare lane 1 and 4, FIG. 13B) (however, further experiments done under different conditions have shown that it is possible to obtain overexpression of J^(int)-Jβ2.6-Cβ when transfected on its own). Similar results were obtained with the MBA-13 mesenchymal cell line, albeit with far lower transfection efficiency (not shown). These results are consistent with the fact that cell surface localization of TCRβ is dependent upon complex formation with pTα in preT cells. Flow cytometric analysis of the cells co-transfected with GFP-J^(int)-Jβ2.6-Cβ and pTα showed a dramatic shift of 59% of the population to sub-G1, indicating massive apoptosis (FIG. 3C-II). This indicates that the relative amount of this protein and the correct timing of its expression in the cell signal cell fate. Although these experiments show that pTα and J^(int)-Jβ2.6-Cβ form a minimal functional receptor complex, further investigations are required to determine the other possible components of the mesenchymal preT cell-like receptor.

Example 11

[0186] Tumor Formation of MBA-13 Subclones

[0187] Finally, we examined the possible relevance of TCR expression by mesenchymal cells to their biological functions. As mentioned above, the MBA-13 cell line was single cloned by limiting dilutions and each clone was examined for expression of TCRβ mRNA. It was observed that the highly expressing clones (D10, B10 and C4) were also tumorigenic in vivo. (FIG. 14). Intradermal injection of these stromal cell clones into nude CD1 recipient mice resulted in tumor formation within a few weeks, only in the case of the fast growing clones (D10, B10 and C4). The slow growing clones (C6 and B7) injected into mice formed tumors at a low incidence and at one month following inoculation.

Example 12

[0188] In Vivo Utility

[0189] The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be used for treatment of diseases involving modulation of mesenchymal growth. By treatment of disease is meant prevention or amelioration of the disease or of symptoms associated with the disease, or minimizing subsequent worsening of the disease or of symptoms associated with the disease. The diseases and conditions to be treated include conditions in which it is preferable to inhibit mesenchymal growth including: cancer, especially in the case of metastasis to any organ, especially the bone marrow, nonmalignant proliferative diseases of any organ, especially the bone marrow, bone marrow defects resulting in hematological disorders such as anemias or leukemias and autoimmune diseases involving any organ, especially the bone marrow.

[0190] In addition, the present invention can be used for treatment of conditions where it is desirable to augment mesenchymal growth including autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, wound healing and autologous or allogeneic organ transplantation.

[0191] It will be appreciated that the most appropriate administration of the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention will depend on the type of injury, disease or condition being treated. Thus, the treatment of an acute event will necessitate systemic administration of the active composition comparatively rapidly after induction of the injury. On the other hand, diminution of chronic degenerative damage will necessitate a sustained dosage regimen.

[0192] Having now fully described this invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the same can be performed within a wide range of equivalent parameters, concentrations, and conditions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without undue experimentation.

[0193] While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the inventions following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth as follows in the scope of the appended claims.

[0194] Reference to known method steps, conventional method steps, known methods or conventional methods is not in any way an admission that any aspect, description or embodiment of the present invention is disclosed, taught or suggested in the relevant art.

[0195] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art (including the contents of the references cited herein), readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance presented herein, in combination with the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art

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[0198] Calman A F, Peterlin B M (1986) Expression of T cell receptor genes in human B cells. J Exp Med 164(6):1940-57

[0199] Essand M, Vasmatzis G, Brinkmann U, Duray P, Lee B, Pastan I (1999).High expression of a specific T-cell receptor gamma transcript in epithelial cells of the prostate. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96(16):9287-92

[0200] Fagioli M, Care A, Ciccone E, Moretta L, Moretta A, Meccia E, Testa U, Falini B, Grignani F, Peschle C, et al. (1991). Molecular heterogeneity of the 1.0-kb T beta transcript in natural killer and gamma/delta lymphocytes. Eur. J Immunol. 21(6):1529-34

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[0204] Madrenas J, Pazderka F, Baergen C, Halloran P F (1991). Isolation of a murine renal cell population which expresses a truncated T-cell receptor-alpha mRNA. Transplant Proc 23(1 Pt 1):837-8

[0205] Madrenas J, Pazderka F, Parfrey N A, Halloran P F (1992). Thymus-independent expression of a truncated T cell receptor-alpha mRNA in murine kidney. J Immunol. 148(2):612-9

[0206] Madrenas J, Vincent D H, Kriangkum J, Elliott J F, Halloran P F (1994). Alternatively spliced, germline J alpha 11-2-C alpha mRNAs are the predominant T cell receptor alpha transcripts inmouse kidney. Mol Immunol. 31(13):993-1004

[0207] Qian L, Vu M N, Carter M S, Doskow J, Wilkinson M F (1993). T cell receptor-beta mRNA splicing during thymic maturation in vivo and in an inducible T cell clone in vitro. J Immunol 15;151(12):6801-14

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[0209] Wientroub S, Zipori D. (1996). “Stem Cell Culture” in: Principles of Bone Biology. J. Bilezikian, L. Raisz, G. Rodan, J. Markovac (eds). Academic Press, San Diego, pp 1267

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1 86 1 26 PRT Mus musculus 1 Met Glu Asn Val Ser Asn Pro Gly Ser Cys Ile Glu Glu Gly Glu Glu 1 5 10 15 Arg Gly Arg Ile Leu Gly Ser Pro Phe Leu 20 25 2 19 PRT Mus musculus 2 Met Gly Glu Tyr Leu Ala Glu Pro Arg Gly Phe Val Cys Gly Val Glu 1 5 10 15 Pro Leu Cys 3 4 PRT Mus musculus 3 Met Ala Trp His 1 4 19 PRT Mus musculus 4 Met Glu Ala Gly Trp Glu Val Gln His Trp Val Ser Asp Met Glu Cys 1 5 10 15 Leu Thr Val 5 6 PRT Mus musculus 5 Met Glu Cys Leu Thr Val 1 5 6 3 PRT Mus musculus 6 Met Thr Val 1 7 13 PRT Mus musculus 7 Met Cys Gly Ser Glu Glu Val Phe Val Val Glu Ser Ala 1 5 10 8 92 PRT Mus musculus 8 Met Ala Cys Tyr Gln Met Tyr Phe Thr Gly Arg Lys Val Asp Glu Pro 1 5 10 15 Ser Glu Leu Gly Ser Gly Leu Glu Leu Ser Tyr Phe His Thr Gly Gly 20 25 30 Ser Ser Gln Ala Val Gly Leu Phe Ile Glu Asn Met Ile Ser Thr Ser 35 40 45 His Gly His Phe Gln Glu Met Gln Phe Ser Ile Trp Ser Phe Thr Val 50 55 60 Leu Gln Ile Ser Ala Pro Gly Ser His Leu Val Pro Glu Thr Glu Arg 65 70 75 80 Ala Glu Gly Pro Gly Val Phe Val Glu His Asp Ile 85 90 9 87 PRT Mus musculus 9 Met Tyr Phe Thr Gly Arg Lys Val Asp Glu Pro Ser Glu Leu Gly Ser 1 5 10 15 Gly Leu Glu Leu Ser Tyr Phe His Thr Gly Gly Ser Ser Gln Ala Val 20 25 30 Gly Leu Phe Ile Glu Asn Met Ile Ser Thr Ser His Gly His Phe Gln 35 40 45 Glu Met Gln Phe Ser Ile Trp Ser Phe Thr Val Leu Gln Ile Ser Ala 50 55 60 Pro Gly Ser His Leu Val Pro Glu Thr Glu Arg Ala Glu Gly Pro Gly 65 70 75 80 Val Phe Val Glu His Asp Ile 85 10 49 PRT Mus musculus 10 Met Ile Ser Thr Ser His Gly His Phe Gln Glu Met Gln Phe Ser Ile 1 5 10 15 Trp Ser Phe Thr Val Leu Gln Ile Ser Ala Pro Gly Ser His Leu Val 20 25 30 Pro Glu Thr Glu Arg Ala Glu Gly Pro Gly Val Phe Val Glu His Asp 35 40 45 Ile 11 38 PRT Mus musculus 11 Met Gln Phe Ser Ile Trp Ser Phe Thr Val Leu Gln Ile Ser Ala Pro 1 5 10 15 Gly Ser His Leu Val Pro Glu Thr Glu Arg Ala Glu Gly Pro Gly Val 20 25 30 Phe Val Glu His Asp Ile 35 12 21 PRT Mus musculus 12 Met Trp Trp Gly Leu Ile Leu Ser Ala Ser Val Lys Phe Leu Gln Arg 1 5 10 15 Lys Glu Ile Leu Cys 20 13 14 PRT Mus musculus 13 Met Val Gly Ala Asp Leu Cys Lys Gly Gly Trp His Cys Val 1 5 10 14 13 PRT Mus musculus 14 Met Arg Glu Pro Val Lys Asn Leu Gln Gly Leu Val Ser 1 5 10 15 25 PRT Mus musculus 15 Met Glu Val Tyr Glu Leu Arg Val Thr Leu Met Glu Thr Gly Arg Glu 1 5 10 15 Arg Ser His Phe Val Lys Thr Ser Leu 20 25 16 15 PRT Mus musculus 16 Met Glu Thr Gly Arg Glu Arg Ser His Phe Val Lys Thr Ser Leu 1 5 10 15 17 30 PRT Homo sapiens 17 Met Gly Leu Ser Ala Val Gly Arg Thr Arg Ala Glu Ser Gly Thr Ala 1 5 10 15 Glu Arg Ala Ala Pro Val Phe Val Leu Gly Leu Gln Ala Val 20 25 30 18 24 PRT Homo sapiens 18 Met Leu Leu Trp Asp Pro Ser Gly Phe Gln Gln Ile Ser Ile Lys Lys 1 5 10 15 Val Ile Ser Lys Thr Leu Pro Thr 20 19 26 PRT Homo sapiens 19 Met Leu Pro Asn Thr Met Gly Gln Leu Val Glu Gly Gly His Met Lys 1 5 10 15 Gln Val Leu Ser Lys Ala Val Leu Thr Val 20 25 20 21 PRT Homo sapiens 20 Met Gly Gln Leu Val Glu Gly Gly His Met Lys Gln Val Leu Ser Lys 1 5 10 15 Ala Val Leu Thr Val 20 21 12 PRT Homo sapiens 21 Met Lys Gln Val Leu Ser Lys Ala Val Leu Thr Val 1 5 10 22 4 PRT Homo sapiens 22 Met Ser Glu Cys 1 23 11 PRT Homo sapiens 23 Met Ala His Phe Val Ala Val Gln Ile Thr Val 1 5 10 24 6 PRT Homo sapiens 24 Met Gly Ile Cys Tyr Ser 1 5 25 18 PRT Homo sapiens 25 Met Lys Arg Ala Gly Glu Gly Lys Ser Phe Cys Lys Gly Arg His Tyr 1 5 10 15 Ser Val 26 21 PRT Homo sapiens 26 Met Leu Thr Thr Leu Ile Tyr Tyr Gln Gly Asn Ser Val Ile Phe Val 1 5 10 15 Arg Gln His Ser Ala 20 27 37 PRT Homo sapiens 27 Met Gln Leu Pro His Phe Val Ala Arg Leu Phe Pro His Glu Gln Phe 1 5 10 15 Val Phe Ile Gln Gln Leu Ser Ser Leu Gly Lys Pro Phe Cys Arg Gly 20 25 30 Val Cys His Ser Val 35 28 11 PRT Homo sapiens 28 Met Gly Phe Ser Lys Gly Arg Lys Cys Cys Gly 1 5 10 29 18 PRT Homo sapiens 29 Met Lys Lys Ile Trp Leu Ser Arg Lys Val Phe Leu Tyr Trp Ala Glu 1 5 10 15 Thr Leu 30 34 PRT Homo sapiens 30 Met Gly Lys Val His Val Met Pro Leu Leu Phe Met Glu Ser Lys Ala 1 5 10 15 Ala Ser Ile Asn Gly Asn Ile Met Leu Val Tyr Val Glu Thr His Asn 20 25 30 Thr Val 31 28 PRT Homo sapiens 31 Met Pro Leu Leu Phe Met Glu Ser Lys Ala Ala Ser Ile Asn Gly Asn 1 5 10 15 Ile Met Leu Val Tyr Val Glu Thr His Asn Thr Val 20 25 32 23 PRT Homo sapiens 32 Met Glu Ser Lys Ala Ala Ser Ile Asn Gly Asn Ile Met Leu Val Tyr 1 5 10 15 Val Glu Thr His Asn Thr Val 20 33 11 PRT Homo sapiens 33 Met Leu Val Tyr Val Glu Thr His Asn Thr Val 1 5 10 34 55 PRT Homo sapiens 34 Met Glu Glu Gly Ser Phe Ile Tyr Thr Ile Lys Gly Pro Trp Met Thr 1 5 10 15 His Ser Leu Cys Asp Cys Cys Val Ile Gly Phe Gln Thr Leu Ala Leu 20 25 30 Ile Gly Ile Ile Gly Glu Gly Thr Trp Trp Leu Leu Gln Gly Val Phe 35 40 45 Cys Leu Gly Arg Thr His Cys 50 55 35 41 PRT Homo sapiens 35 Met Thr His Ser Leu Cys Asp Cys Cys Val Ile Gly Phe Gln Thr Leu 1 5 10 15 Ala Leu Ile Gly Ile Ile Gly Glu Gly Thr Trp Trp Leu Leu Gln Gly 20 25 30 Val Phe Cys Leu Gly Arg Thr His Cys 35 40 36 16 PRT Homo sapiens 36 Met Glu Ser Gln Ala Thr Gly Phe Cys Tyr Glu Ala Ser His Ser Val 1 5 10 15 37 12 PRT Mus musculus 37 Leu Ala Glu Pro Arg Gly Phe Val Cys Gly Val Glu 1 5 10 38 773 DNA Mus musculus Intron (9)..(108) intron 5 prime to J beta 2.6 38 ttccctaaat gggagaatac ctcgctgaac cccgcgggtt tgtgtgtggg gttgagcctc 60 tgtgctccta tgaacagtac ttcggtcccg gcaccaggct cacggtttta gaggatctga 120 gaaatgtgac tccacccaag gtctccttgt ttgagccatc aaaagcagag attgcaaaca 180 aacaaaaggc taccctcgtg tgcttggcca ggggcttctt ccctgaccac gtggagctga 240 gctggtgggt gaatggcaag gaggtccaca gtggggtcag cacggaccct caggcctaca 300 aggagagcaa ttatagctac tgcctgagca gccgcctgag ggtctctgct accttctggc 360 acaatcctcg aaaccacttc cgctgccaag tgcagttcca tgggctttca gaggaggaca 420 agtggccaga gggctcaccc aaacctgtca cacagaacat cagtgcagag gcctggggcc 480 gagcagactg tggaatcact tcagcatcct atcatcaggg ggttctgtct gcaaccatcc 540 tctatgagat cctactgggg aaggccaccc tatatgctgt gctggtcagt ggcctggtgc 600 tgatggccat ggtcaagaaa aaaaattcct gagacaaact tttatgcatc ctgagccgtt 660 cttcaccctg gccatagatt ttcctgcacc ttctctaatt cctgttccta agaacttgtc 720 tcttcttcct ccatggatat ccatccttcc tcgttgacac cttgactctg aaa 773 39 207 PRT Mus musculus 39 Met Gly Glu Tyr Leu Ala Glu Pro Arg Gly Phe Val Cys Gly Val Glu 1 5 10 15 Pro Leu Cys Ser Tyr Glu Gln Tyr Phe Gly Pro Gly Thr Arg Leu Thr 20 25 30 Val Leu Glu Asp Leu Arg Asn Val Thr Pro Pro Lys Val Ser Leu Phe 35 40 45 Glu Pro Ser Lys Ala Glu Ile Ala Asn Lys Gln Lys Ala Thr Leu Val 50 55 60 Cys Leu Ala Arg Gly Phe Phe Pro Asp His Val Glu Leu Ser Trp Trp 65 70 75 80 Val Asn Gly Lys Glu Val His Ser Gly Val Ser Thr Asp Pro Gln Ala 85 90 95 Tyr Lys Glu Ser Asn Tyr Ser Tyr Cys Leu Ser Ser Arg Leu Arg Val 100 105 110 Ser Ala Thr Phe Trp His Asn Pro Arg Asn His Phe Arg Cys Gln Val 115 120 125 Gln Phe His Gly Leu Ser Glu Glu Asp Lys Trp Pro Glu Gly Ser Pro 130 135 140 Lys Pro Val Thr Gln Asn Ile Ser Ala Glu Ala Trp Gly Arg Ala Asp 145 150 155 160 Cys Gly Ile Thr Ser Ala Ser Tyr His Gln Gly Val Leu Ser Ala Thr 165 170 175 Ile Leu Tyr Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Lys Ala Thr Leu Tyr Ala Val Leu 180 185 190 Val Ser Gly Leu Val Leu Met Ala Met Val Lys Lys Lys Asn Ser 195 200 205 40 129 PRT Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(129) J beta 2.1 sequence 40 Lys Gly Ser Arg Glu Val Glu Pro Pro Phe Ser Pro Tyr His Val Asn 1 5 10 15 His Gln Gln Ser Ile Arg Thr Cys Met Gly Asn Tyr Glu Leu Ile Lys 20 25 30 Lys His Val Glu Lys Thr Leu Cys Gly Lys Glu Val Thr Ser Pro Phe 35 40 45 Ser Leu Glu Ala Thr Trp Thr Pro Thr Gly Ser Leu Gln Ile Ser Asn 50 55 60 Ser Leu Cys Gln Thr Leu Ser Glu Met Asp Ile Arg Ser Gln Ala Lys 65 70 75 80 Ser Gly Ile Ser Ser Ser Ile Asp Arg Pro His Ala Arg Ser Arg Leu 85 90 95 Pro Tyr Gln Phe Trp Arg Met Glu Asn Val Ser Asn Pro Gly Ser Cys 100 105 110 Ile Glu Glu Gly Glu Glu Arg Gly Arg Ile Leu Gly Ser Pro Phe Leu 115 120 125 Leu 41 54 PRT Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(54) J beta 2.6 sequence 41 Glu Leu Leu Gly Asn Cys Ser Gly Glu Phe Trp Gly Phe Trp Arg Leu 1 5 10 15 Tyr Pro Glu Phe Pro Ser Arg Ala Leu Glu Arg Glu Ala Glu Gln Gly 20 25 30 Asp Phe Pro Met Gly Glu Tyr Leu Ala Glu Pro Arg Gly Phe Val Cys 35 40 45 Gly Val Glu Pro Leu Cys 50 42 340 PRT Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(340) J alpha TA31 sequence 42 Val Ser Lys Lys Lys Lys Lys Lys Lys Ser Val Thr Ile Leu Asn Ser 1 5 10 15 Glu Pro Ala Glu Gly Ala Ile Asn Ser Ser Leu Leu Gly Ser Leu Asp 20 25 30 Pro Gly Asn Val Leu Glu His Cys Thr Gly Leu Leu Pro Ser Pro Lys 35 40 45 Asp Asp Pro Cys Gln Asp Arg Ser Ser Phe Leu Trp Gly Gly Gly Gln 50 55 60 Trp Ile Phe Ala Val Ile Val Phe Cys Leu Ala His Ser Pro Arg Leu 65 70 75 80 Trp Pro Glu Thr Ser Pro Gln Ser Thr Thr Gln Glu Gln Arg Val Lys 85 90 95 Gly Leu Asn Gly Glu Arg Asp Ile Gly His Val Arg Thr Arg Arg Asn 100 105 110 Phe Thr Gln Lys Lys Asn Cys His Leu Gly Arg Cys Ser Val Ser Met 115 120 125 Ala Glu Val Thr Pro Pro Pro Cys Pro Arg Leu Val Ser Gln Leu Arg 130 135 140 His Gly His Gln Lys Gly Gly Phe Leu Ser Ser Leu Lys Thr Asn Leu 145 150 155 160 Ala Glu Ser His Leu Pro Ser Ser Pro Asn Glu Pro Val Val Ser Val 165 170 175 Asp Ala Leu Gly Ser Val Arg Arg Val Phe Ala Val Ala Glu Gly Ser 180 185 190 Arg Leu Thr Arg Arg Ala Arg Trp Gly Arg Thr Tyr Arg Gly Trp Thr 195 200 205 Glu Ala Ser Pro Cys Leu His Ser Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Ser Cys Gly 210 215 220 Phe Thr Gly Gly Arg Gly Gly Trp Gly Arg Gly Ala Ile Pro Lys Ala 225 230 235 240 Val Ala Cys Phe Gly Ile Cys Ser Gly Leu Leu Cys Leu Pro Pro Trp 245 250 255 Glu Arg Thr His Leu Ala Ser Arg Arg Leu Asp Val Ala Gly Gln Glu 260 265 270 Asp Thr Gly Val Gly Gly Asn Ser Phe Arg Gly Glu Gly Glu Arg Gly 275 280 285 Gly Arg Thr Val Val Glu Gly Val Thr Gly Gly Ser Met Ser Arg Met 290 295 300 Ser Glu Val Lys Phe Lys Lys Leu Glu Ile Lys Asn Lys Lys Gln Gly 305 310 315 320 Arg Gly Leu Gln Lys Val Tyr Arg Ala Gly Thr Val Asp Phe Val Met 325 330 335 Ala Trp His Thr 340 43 253 PRT Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(253) J alpha TA46 sequence 43 Val Phe Leu Pro Gly Arg Trp Glu Pro Lys Glu Val Asp Arg Asp Ile 1 5 10 15 Ser Asn Pro Pro Cys Lys Pro Leu Val Leu Pro Thr Val Asp Thr Val 20 25 30 Thr Ile Arg Thr Leu Ser His Ile Asp Glu Gly Ser Asp Val Val His 35 40 45 Thr Glu Asp Ser Arg Asp Leu Ser Leu Val Thr Val Ser Asp Cys Met 50 55 60 Pro Ile Val Val His Ser Arg Val Gln Gln Thr Lys Asp Arg Asp Ile 65 70 75 80 Lys Ile Arg Trp Thr Leu Ser Pro His Leu Cys Asn Gln Met Ile Phe 85 90 95 Thr Gly Ser Leu Ala Asn Gly Cys Val Ala Ser Leu Thr Ile Ser Pro 100 105 110 Leu Leu Ser Pro Trp Leu Ser Phe Gly Ser Leu Ser Leu Thr Asn Leu 115 120 125 Lys Ser Ile Tyr Ile Ile Arg Phe Leu Gly Cys Ile Thr His Lys Lys 130 135 140 Met Thr Ser Arg His Ile Asn Ile Asn Pro Glu Glu Arg Gly Gln Arg 145 150 155 160 Ala Leu Ser Gln Thr Cys Ser Glu Leu Asn Leu Thr Thr Pro Cys Phe 165 170 175 Asn Gln Leu Ala Ser Ala Tyr Asp Gln Leu Arg Gln Arg Ala Thr Asp 180 185 190 Arg Lys Trp Ser Ser Arg His His Leu Thr Arg Ala Leu Pro His Gln 195 200 205 Arg Tyr Phe Arg Val Gln Glu Ser Phe Pro Gln Ala Gly Trp Leu Glu 210 215 220 Arg Gly His Gly Ser Ala Leu Arg Gln Ala Met Glu Ala Gly Trp Glu 225 230 235 240 Val Gln His Trp Val Ser Asp Met Glu Cys Leu Thr Val 245 250 44 310 PRT Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(310) J alpha New05 sequence 44 Val Lys Asp Gly Tyr Pro Lys Thr Lys Val Cys Gly Phe Ala Val Leu 1 5 10 15 Cys Ser Phe Gly Gly Cys Met Ser Leu Pro Pro Arg Ser Leu Cys Ile 20 25 30 Thr Leu Met Gly Leu Cys Leu Met Lys Ser Gly His Ser Lys Asp Leu 35 40 45 Asp Glu Glu Val Ile Ile Ile Thr Ala Phe Phe His Tyr Leu Arg Ile 50 55 60 Arg Ser Ala Arg Phe Ile Asn Val Arg Leu Met Phe Val Leu Arg Tyr 65 70 75 80 Lys Pro Asn Asn Ser Lys Ile Arg Leu Ser Ser Val Thr Thr His Ile 85 90 95 His Thr His Ser His Thr His Ile Leu Thr His Trp His Asn His Thr 100 105 110 His Thr His Thr Leu Ser Gln Ser His Thr His Thr His Ser His Thr 115 120 125 Ser Thr Ile Thr His Thr Leu Thr Gln Pro His Thr His Ser Leu Ser 130 135 140 Leu Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser 145 150 155 160 Leu Pro Arg Gln Cys Asn Cys Ile Trp Phe Pro Ser Arg Asn Gly Cys 165 170 175 Cys Val Cys Leu Thr Asp Met Gln Ser Tyr Gln Leu Val Ser Trp Leu 180 185 190 Gly Phe Cys Tyr Cys Phe Ser Val Lys Thr Leu Pro Val Lys Glu Ala 195 200 205 Trp Cys Tyr Gln Pro Ser Cys His Tyr Ser Asn His Ile Tyr Thr Pro 210 215 220 Phe Tyr Tyr Phe Ile Ser Leu Lys Leu Ala Gln Leu Ile Arg Ile Gln 225 230 235 240 Cys Trp Gly Asn Lys Thr Ser Gly Phe Ser Ser Ser Glu Leu His Ser 245 250 255 Gln Leu Leu Val Leu Arg Gly Cys Ser Lys Pro Ser Gln Thr Leu Gly 260 265 270 Thr Lys Ala Ala Arg Arg Lys Ala Ser Thr Arg Gly Glu Asp Asp Val 275 280 285 Ala Phe Leu Gly Leu Pro Leu Gly Pro Ser Cys Leu Leu Val Ile Val 290 295 300 Arg Pro Gln Met Thr Val 305 310 45 688 PRT Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(688) J alpha S 58 sequence 45 Trp Val Arg Phe His Val Thr Ala Val Ala Leu Cys Ser Phe Thr Ser 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu His Leu Phe Leu Glu Thr Leu Gly Phe Arg Leu Ser Phe Leu 20 25 30 Phe Lys Lys Gln Ser Leu Ser Lys Gln Asp Leu Leu Cys Leu Leu Ser 35 40 45 Phe His Ile Val Thr Lys Ala Gly Arg Ile Cys Ser Lys Leu Gly Leu 50 55 60 Arg Leu Leu Ala Lys Val Glu Trp Met Val Leu Val Tyr Arg Lys Glu 65 70 75 80 Arg Phe Val Leu Leu Phe Phe Pro Tyr Ser Lys Val Lys Ala Thr Thr 85 90 95 Val Ala Ser Lys Val Leu Gln Ala Trp Ser Val Leu Gln Gly Glu Thr 100 105 110 Trp Gly Asn Trp Leu Thr Phe His Gly Lys Thr Gly Met Leu Phe Val 115 120 125 Val Gly Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Ser Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Leu Lys 130 135 140 Glu Thr Tyr Asn Thr Phe Leu Ser Gly Phe Glu Leu Gly Ile Gln Met 145 150 155 160 Cys Ile Thr Cys Ser Trp Gln Gly Ser Arg Ala Val Val Leu Asn Leu 165 170 175 Pro Asn Val Val Ala Pro Ser Pro Pro Lys Thr Ile Lys Leu Phe Cys 180 185 190 Cys Tyr Phe Ile Ala Val Thr Leu Leu Leu Leu Ile Gly Met Ile Ser 195 200 205 Tyr Met Gln Leu Ile Tyr Ala Thr Pro Val Lys Gly Ser Leu Asn Pro 210 215 220 Gln Arg Arg Ser Ala Leu Gln Asp Glu Ser Arg Cys Cys Arg Gly Arg 225 230 235 240 Trp Ser Thr Val Ser Asn Val Arg Gly Ala Ile Glu Leu Gly Arg Asn 245 250 255 Thr Met Pro Thr Phe Glu Glu Lys Lys Asn Ser Ser Leu Gly Leu Glu 260 265 270 Gln Asp Pro Leu Phe Leu Val Ser Pro Leu Pro Leu Glu Lys Lys Pro 275 280 285 Phe Ile Cys Asn Gly Leu Ser Arg Leu Met Ser Phe Met Arg Phe His 290 295 300 Val Leu Thr Asp Ser Leu Gly Arg Arg Ser Leu Leu Pro Leu Gln Val 305 310 315 320 Val Phe Asp Val Gly Asn Val Asn Cys Thr Ala Lys Ile Arg Arg Ala 325 330 335 Gly Ile Asn Ser Gln Pro Leu Leu Met Leu Ser Leu Asn Arg Asn Gln 340 345 350 Ile Arg Met Leu Ser Ser Val Cys Val His Thr Pro Pro Arg Ala Ser 355 360 365 Phe Asp Cys Gln Leu Ile Gln Ile Phe Arg His Leu Ser Glu Gln Thr 370 375 380 Ser Leu Gly Ser Leu Cys Leu Asn Leu Ser Arg Tyr Leu His Asn Cys 385 390 395 400 Gln Ile Cys Phe Thr Leu Cys Cys Ile Asp Ser Ala Lys Gln Met Arg 405 410 415 Leu Cys Phe Pro Arg Ser Phe Ser Pro Arg Arg Ser Ser Leu Pro Pro 420 425 430 Ser Lys His Leu Phe Thr Gln Arg Glu Asp Val Gln Arg Val Thr Leu 435 440 445 Ile Ala Ala Ala Ser Leu His Leu Tyr Asp Ser Leu Pro Trp Lys Arg 450 455 460 Leu Lys His Phe Ile Arg Leu Ile Ser Thr Asp Gln Pro Asn Glu Glu 465 470 475 480 Arg Asn Arg Phe Ala Ser Phe Leu Trp Leu Gln Phe Gln Ala Thr His 485 490 495 Leu Glu His Leu Val Arg His Leu Arg Asn Thr Gly Ala Arg Arg Glu 500 505 510 Val Val Ser Leu Cys Gly Leu Val Phe Leu Ser Cys Thr Glu Asn Phe 515 520 525 Thr Gln Glu Glu Glu Ser Lys Val Glu Asn Gln Pro Gly Ile His Met 530 535 540 Tyr Thr Lys Gln Ser Ala Ser Ala Leu Ser Gly Ser Thr Val Trp Phe 545 550 555 560 Pro His Ser Pro Thr Pro Ala Pro Phe Ile Ser Asn Thr Tyr Ile Ile 565 570 575 Leu Phe Ser Phe Ser Phe Glu Phe Leu Ser Ala Met Pro Ser His Asn 580 585 590 Pro Ser Thr Tyr His Cys Leu Ser Asn Pro Arg Met Asp Gly Ser Gly 595 600 605 Thr Gly Arg Val Leu Phe Ser Gly Pro Ser Ala Glu Pro Leu Lys Lys 610 615 620 Cys Arg Leu Tyr Pro Ser Ser Val Ala Thr Arg Arg Leu Gly Arg Gly 625 630 635 640 Gln Asp Glu Glu Lys Pro Gln Glu Ser Gly Thr Ala Ser Leu Trp Tyr 645 650 655 Ile Arg Leu Asn Leu Leu Ser Gly Leu Lys Cys Phe Ser Phe His Leu 660 665 670 Glu Pro Met Cys Gly Ser Glu Glu Val Phe Val Val Glu Ser Ala Thr 675 680 685 46 275 PRT Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(275) J alpha New06 sequence 46 Lys Cys Val Phe Ser Cys Ser Leu Gly Leu Glu Gln Tyr Cys Ser Leu 1 5 10 15 His Pro Gln Ile Phe Ser Arg Arg Ile Gln Cys Leu Ala Leu Gln Thr 20 25 30 Leu Pro Val Pro Leu Lys Gly Ser Tyr Ser Phe Phe Lys His Arg Arg 35 40 45 Ile Pro Phe Asn Val Ala Asn Cys Gly Gly Asp Thr Ala Gln Gly Pro 50 55 60 Asn Leu Cys Ser Ser Leu Leu Gly Gln Leu Cys Leu Leu Ser His Arg 65 70 75 80 Thr Ser Glu Ser Gly Gly Leu Phe Pro Ser Leu Ala Phe Pro Val Asp 85 90 95 Glu Val Val Leu Ser Thr Asn Phe Ile Val Lys Asp Thr His Asp Arg 100 105 110 Gln Leu Leu Pro Tyr Phe Ser Leu Asn Lys Phe Phe Leu Cys Leu Gln 115 120 125 His Ile Ser Ala Asn Glu Phe Leu Val Ile Gln Ile Asn Ser Ser Val 130 135 140 Thr Thr Val Ala Ser Tyr Pro Ile Ile Gln Asn Ser Leu Thr His His 145 150 155 160 Ser Ala Ala Ala His Cys Ala Ser Ser Asn Pro Asp Leu His Ala Ser 165 170 175 Ser Asn Lys Ala Lys Arg Met Ala Cys Tyr Gln Met Tyr Phe Thr Gly 180 185 190 Arg Lys Val Asp Glu Pro Ser Glu Leu Gly Ser Gly Leu Glu Leu Ser 195 200 205 Tyr Phe His Thr Gly Gly Ser Ser Gln Ala Val Gly Leu Phe Ile Glu 210 215 220 Asn Met Ile Ser Thr Ser His Gly His Phe Gln Glu Met Gln Phe Ser 225 230 235 240 Ile Trp Ser Phe Thr Val Leu Gln Ile Ser Ala Pro Gly Ser His Leu 245 250 255 Val Pro Glu Thr Glu Arg Ala Glu Gly Pro Gly Val Phe Val Glu His 260 265 270 Asp Ile Thr 275 47 556 PRT Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(556) J alpha New08 sequence 47 Val Met Phe His Phe Leu Met Phe Asn Ser Leu Pro Leu Ser Arg Cys 1 5 10 15 Ser Glu Cys Arg Val Gly Lys Leu His Met Leu Gly His Gly Gly Gln 20 25 30 His Ser Cys Thr Gly Tyr Ser Thr Ala Gln Pro Asp Thr Thr Ser Pro 35 40 45 Thr Thr Gly Glu Thr Ala Pro Thr Leu Pro Pro Asp Thr Lys Ile Phe 50 55 60 Leu Ile Val Tyr Leu Ile Arg Ala Lys Gly Lys Ile Lys Lys Leu Cys 65 70 75 80 Pro Glu Ser Ile Leu Lys Ser Pro Arg Pro Ser Pro Pro Tyr Pro His 85 90 95 Ser Pro Ala Asp Cys Lys Phe Asn Val Ile Phe Gly Ser Tyr Lys Gly 100 105 110 Phe Leu Cys Leu Met Thr Pro Thr Val Ser Leu Pro Ser Phe Ile Lys 115 120 125 Gly Leu Leu Phe Cys Val Trp Pro Leu Leu Ala Ser Trp Phe Cys Pro 130 135 140 His Ala Pro Leu Cys Leu Phe Gln Gly Trp Ala Gly Asp Asn Ser Phe 145 150 155 160 Lys Ser His Phe Asp Val Thr Asp Asn Arg Asp Lys Val Leu Ala Lys 165 170 175 Cys Asn Thr Ala His Gly Val Phe Ser Arg His Thr Thr Ser Gln Leu 180 185 190 Phe Ser Ser Val Gln Lys His Gly His Ser Tyr Leu Met Ser Ala Ile 195 200 205 Tyr Ser Asp Thr Ala Lys Cys Ser Phe Lys Ala Gly Thr Arg Asp Phe 210 215 220 Leu Trp Asp Leu Phe Leu Arg Leu Thr Met Gly Trp Ala Phe Ser Gly 225 230 235 240 Ser Ser Glu Met Pro Ser Trp Ile Pro Ala Leu Pro Met Glu Ile Leu 245 250 255 Trp Ser Gly Thr Ala Lys Pro Asp Met Phe Leu Leu Tyr Arg Leu Leu 260 265 270 Gln Gly Leu Glu Ile Arg Thr Leu Arg Glu Asn Lys Ser Phe Gly Met 275 280 285 Gly Arg Leu Leu Asp Gly Ser Ile Arg Lys Arg Asn Asp Gln Glu Glu 290 295 300 Arg Pro Lys Lys Asn Thr Gly Gln Ala Leu Gly Trp Gly Gly Val Gly 305 310 315 320 Met Ser Arg Lys Met Val Thr Val Gly Ile Gln Glu Ala Gly Ser Leu 325 330 335 Ser Glu Gly Lys Gln Gly Phe Leu Leu Lys Val Pro Ser Gln Leu Ser 340 345 350 Asn Leu Asn Gln Gln Gly His Leu Pro Phe Pro Ser Asp Phe Pro Val 355 360 365 His Val Gly Met Pro Leu Pro Pro Thr Met Val Cys Glu Val Gly Arg 370 375 380 Gly Ile Asp Gln Glu Tyr Val His Ser Gly Pro Leu Phe Lys His Glu 385 390 395 400 Thr Pro Glu Ser Val Arg Gly Ala Lys Ser Leu Gly Pro Arg Arg Glu 405 410 415 Met Gln Gln Ser Asn Ser Ser Gln Gln Val Trp Arg Ser Thr Glu Gln 420 425 430 Asp Pro Val Leu Ala Leu Cys Leu Thr Pro Leu Ala Ser Pro Asp His 435 440 445 Thr Ala His Pro Ser Ser Phe Ser Pro Gln Glu Ser Lys Val Leu Asp 450 455 460 Arg Glu Pro Glu Ile Pro Pro Gly Gln Val Gln Lys Gly Trp Ser Gly 465 470 475 480 Ala Gln Gly Trp Phe Leu Lys Thr Leu Trp Ile Ser Ile Phe Leu Ile 485 490 495 Tyr Asn Lys Phe Leu Ser Val Ile Arg Lys Met Phe Leu Leu Thr Ile 500 505 510 Pro Val Lys Gly Lys Asp Asn Ile Tyr Arg Gly Pro Leu Leu Arg Cys 515 520 525 Gln Phe Pro Pro Trp Ala Ser Met Trp Trp Gly Leu Ile Leu Ser Ala 530 535 540 Ser Val Lys Phe Leu Gln Arg Lys Glu Ile Leu Cys 545 550 555 48 604 PRT Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(604) J alpha LB2A sequence 48 Val Ile Val Thr His Pro Leu Cys Ile Pro Pro Thr Arg Ser Ile Phe 1 5 10 15 Ala Leu Ser Ser Leu Leu Gly Ser Leu Ser Asn Val Val Ser Val Thr 20 25 30 Pro Cys Pro Tyr Leu Leu Ser Arg Tyr Lys Trp Ser Lys Gln Ile Leu 35 40 45 Gly Phe His His Ser Glu Thr Asp Asn Cys Val Leu Asp Ile Leu Gln 50 55 60 Lys Glu Gly Phe Gln Ser Lys Gly Ser His Tyr Phe Tyr Leu Thr His 65 70 75 80 Lys Glu Ala Gly Asp Asn Trp Lys Val Pro Gly Glu Tyr Leu Gly Phe 85 90 95 Gln Lys Ala Asp Met Ala Gln Cys Met His Ser Lys Ile Pro Leu Thr 100 105 110 Phe Ile Glu Tyr Leu Leu Tyr Ala Cys Val Asn Ala Pro Cys Thr Leu 115 120 125 Ser His Leu Arg Gly Trp Leu Trp Gly Arg Phe Tyr Pro Thr Phe Lys 130 135 140 Gly Lys Val Glu Ile Val Thr Lys Trp Leu Arg Glu Asn Gly Gly Pro 145 150 155 160 Ser Thr Ser Ser Arg Pro Gly Cys Pro His Cys Gly Leu Ser Gln Pro 165 170 175 Gly Ser Cys Gly Leu Tyr Arg Met Lys Pro Val Val Leu Val Thr Thr 180 185 190 Ser Ser Val Leu Ser Gln Pro Cys Leu Glu Gln Gly Val Arg Asp Ser 195 200 205 Leu Cys Phe Leu Asp Ser Asp Thr Leu Lys Gln Asn Gly Glu Cys Val 210 215 220 His Glu Gln Phe His Ser Gly Ser Met Val Asn Gly Gln Thr Asn Leu 225 230 235 240 Lys Arg Ser Ser Leu Trp Leu Glu Ser Pro Phe Ser Thr Pro Leu Ser 245 250 255 Ser Leu Pro Thr Phe Leu Ser Ser Trp Thr Phe Ile Ser Gly Lys Pro 260 265 270 Leu His Arg Cys Leu Cys Arg Ser Gln Ile Lys Asn Glu Arg Leu Ser 275 280 285 Pro Gly His Thr Lys Asn Leu Arg Arg Leu Phe Phe Gln Tyr Leu Lys 290 295 300 Asn Ser Cys Val Asp Asn Gly Arg Gly His Gln Arg Gln Asn Gln Lys 305 310 315 320 Gln Met Lys Arg Arg Pro Ser Phe Ser Gly Met Leu Leu Asn Gly Ala 325 330 335 Val Gly Gly Gln Ala Pro Leu Ser Leu Glu Ser Ala Leu Gln Gly Leu 340 345 350 His Ser Gly Ser Ser Gly Leu Arg Trp Arg Ala Leu Trp Lys Glu Phe 355 360 365 Leu Trp His Phe Arg Leu Trp Ile Ser Cys Glu Leu Glu Val Leu Arg 370 375 380 Pro His Asp Pro Ser Ile Glu Asp Lys Arg Val Gly Tyr Ile Cys Phe 385 390 395 400 Phe Leu Phe Leu Leu Phe Pro Arg Asn Arg Pro Ser Asn Cys Ser Gln 405 410 415 Ala Glu Ala Tyr Arg Asp Phe Phe Thr Leu Arg Arg Arg Thr Met Ile 420 425 430 Ser Gln Cys Ser Lys Trp Gly Lys Lys Arg Arg Glu Arg Glu Arg Glu 435 440 445 Arg Glu Arg Glu Arg Glu Arg Glu Arg Glu Arg Glu Arg Glu Arg Glu 450 455 460 Met Pro Arg Arg Ala Arg Gly Thr Lys Glu Val Gly Leu Cys Arg Gly 465 470 475 480 Gln Ile Ser Ile Glu Val Phe Ile Ser Ser Ala Leu Glu Asn Pro Ser 485 490 495 Ile Met Val Leu Val Thr Glu Ala Val Phe Thr Gly Lys Gln Asp Gln 500 505 510 Gly Ser Glu Gly Leu Pro Ile Thr Leu Ser Lys Gly Cys Val Ile Ala 515 520 525 Phe Glu Arg Thr Leu Ala Val Glu Arg Leu Leu Leu Pro Gln Ile Ile 530 535 540 Cys Leu Leu Arg Cys Ser Leu Arg Lys Ser Asp Cys Leu Pro Leu Leu 545 550 555 560 Gly Ala Trp Gly Lys Asp Leu Gly Lys Leu Arg Ala Asp Arg Arg Ser 565 570 575 Phe Ser Ala Leu His Ser Gln Ala Arg Glu Arg Gly Trp Gly Met Val 580 585 590 Gly Ala Asp Leu Cys Lys Gly Gly Trp His Cys Val 595 600 49 385 PRT Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(385) J alpha DK1 sequence 49 Val Cys Leu Phe Leu Trp Ile Pro Asn Leu Ile His Cys Asp Lys Cys 1 5 10 15 Lys Leu Phe Arg His Val Ser Gly Val Ser Thr Val Pro Ile His Pro 20 25 30 Asp Ile Thr Gly Ser Lys Val Pro Ser His Ala Phe Pro Val Leu Thr 35 40 45 Arg Lys Thr Gly Ser Ser Leu Tyr Cys Trp Gln Ala Gln Gly Ser Arg 50 55 60 Leu Glu Asp Ala Ser Asp Ala Gln Gln Pro Ala Trp Asp Cys Pro Gly 65 70 75 80 Arg Glu Ser Cys Ser Glu Met Pro Ser Ser Leu Pro Leu Gly Ile Ile 85 90 95 Leu Leu Ser Ser Pro Thr Ala Arg Pro Cys Leu Ser Val Ala Tyr Ser 100 105 110 Ile Pro Ala Ser His Thr Cys Gly Cys Ala Asn Ile Leu Ile Glu Ala 115 120 125 Ser Gly Arg Ser Gly Ser Ser Met Leu Leu Phe Gly Lys Ala Ser His 130 135 140 Ser Lys Ala Gly Leu Asp Ser Pro Pro Pro Lys Ser Leu His Ile Pro 145 150 155 160 Gly Ser Gly Leu Gln Val Gln Thr Thr Met Leu Val Phe Val Val Leu 165 170 175 Asp Met Glu Pro Gly Cys Ala Cys Leu Gln Gly Lys His Phe Ile Gly 180 185 190 Ala Ile Ser Leu Ala His Leu Pro Val Ser Ile Phe Phe Glu Arg Ile 195 200 205 Ser Trp Tyr Ser His Leu Val His Arg Gln Lys Asp Asp Val Asp Val 210 215 220 Pro Arg Trp His Thr Val Ile Trp Ser Gln Ala Leu Ile Phe Pro Pro 225 230 235 240 Ser Ile Phe Arg Cys Leu Ser Val Lys Val Ile Ser Ser Ser Met Ser 245 250 255 Pro Gly Gly Arg Leu Ala Cys Cys Pro Ser Ser Ala Val Ala Trp Met 260 265 270 Ala Ser Ser Cys Tyr Pro Thr Leu Cys Ile Pro Ile Ile His Leu Thr 275 280 285 Leu Tyr Val Tyr Leu Leu Phe Pro Tyr Ser Met Tyr Cys His Ala Thr 290 295 300 Val Met Leu Phe Ile Val Ser Ser Val Ser Ser Val Val Pro Ile Thr 305 310 315 320 Lys Ile Gln Arg Pro Asn Cys Leu Pro Cys Leu Lys Ile Ile Val Leu 325 330 335 Glu Lys Lys Leu Glu Phe Cys Cys Cys Leu Tyr Arg His Glu Leu Arg 340 345 350 Ser Leu Ala Val Ala Arg Thr Gly Tyr Asp Phe Cys Ser Val Leu His 355 360 365 Thr Pro Val Met Arg Glu Pro Val Lys Asn Leu Gln Gly Leu Val Ser 370 375 380 Leu 385 50 399 PRT Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(399) J alpha TA39 sequence 50 Val Pro Asp Ser Trp Leu Arg Pro Pro Leu Ser His Ser Leu Tyr His 1 5 10 15 Thr Asp Asp His Met Pro Tyr His Ser Ser Lys Val Glu Leu Gly Phe 20 25 30 Asn Glu Glu Arg Asn Met Leu Leu Val Val Ala Val Leu His Pro Met 35 40 45 Ser His Ser Met Phe Ile Ile Thr Leu Ile Thr Ser Ser Asp Lys Arg 50 55 60 Lys Phe Thr Arg Arg Thr Val Thr Ile Cys Thr Leu Val Lys Met Lys 65 70 75 80 Val Ser Thr Gly Ala Gly Ala Tyr Cys Asn Ser Gly Tyr Gln Lys Asp 85 90 95 Gln Ala Leu Ala Arg Lys Lys Leu Asn Lys Val Asp Leu Val Lys Leu 100 105 110 Leu Gln Ile Phe Phe Lys Asn Gln Tyr Val Ser Glu Leu Thr Gly Glu 115 120 125 Tyr Ser Ala Ala Ile Leu Ser Gly Phe Ser Tyr Ser Tyr Gly Thr Thr 130 135 140 Val Val Glu Pro Cys Lys Arg Gly Phe His Gly Leu Asn Ser Met Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Leu Tyr Ser Ser Asn Gln Lys Gly Gly Ile Pro Ser Arg Thr Pro 165 170 175 Lys Arg Glu Glu Ser Met Leu Ile Thr Ser Ile Asp His Ser Arg Leu 180 185 190 Ser Ile Phe Val Arg Gln His Gly Thr Thr Ile Tyr Asn Val Phe Ile 195 200 205 Trp Gly Thr Arg His His Arg Asp Ala Gly Cys Asp Pro Leu Asn Leu 210 215 220 Pro Gln Tyr Leu Gly Thr Val Val Lys Glu Leu Met Val His Ala Asp 225 230 235 240 Lys His Ile Pro Cys Met Gly Lys Leu Ser Lys Gly Cys Arg Thr Gly 245 250 255 Cys Glu Gln Asp Arg Ser Cys Arg Asn Pro Arg Asn Asn Ser Ser Arg 260 265 270 Arg Ala Asp Pro Glu Glu Arg Ala Ala Gln Leu Lys His Ile Gln Val 275 280 285 Pro Ile Cys Phe Asp Ser Cys Thr Gly Pro Ala Leu Ser Val Lys Arg 290 295 300 Lys Cys Leu Ile Ile Leu His Lys Leu Ile Gly Val Asn Val Cys Lys 305 310 315 320 Asn Ile Leu Gln Ile Leu Lys Cys Tyr Pro His Ile Lys Tyr Gly Ser 325 330 335 Ile Lys Gln Gln Lys Ile Leu Lys Leu Gly Gln Ser Thr Leu Leu Arg 340 345 350 Arg Asp Gly Val Cys Ser Cys Gly Ser Val Ala Thr Gly Thr Gly Lys 355 360 365 His Pro Leu Ser Leu Met Glu Val Tyr Glu Leu Arg Val Thr Leu Met 370 375 380 Glu Thr Gly Arg Glu Arg Ser His Phe Val Lys Thr Ser Leu Thr 385 390 395 51 225 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(225) J beta 2.3 (bases 198551 to 198627), containing [SEQ ID NO17] 51 Met Gly Leu Ser Ala Val Gly Arg Thr Arg Ala Glu Ser Gly Thr Ala 1 5 10 15 Glu Arg Ala Ala Pro Val Phe Val Leu Gly Leu Gln Ala Val Ser Thr 20 25 30 Asp Thr Gln Tyr Phe Gly Pro Gly Thr Arg Leu Thr Val Leu Glu Asp 35 40 45 Leu Lys Asn Val Phe Pro Pro Glu Val Ala Val Phe Glu Pro Ser Glu 50 55 60 Ala Glu Ile Ser His Thr Gln Lys Ala Thr Leu Val Cys Leu Ala Thr 65 70 75 80 Gly Phe Tyr Pro Asp His Val Glu Leu Ser Trp Trp Val Asn Gly Lys 85 90 95 Glu Val His Ser Gly Val Ser Thr Asp Pro Gln Pro Leu Lys Glu Gln 100 105 110 Pro Ala Leu Asn Asp Ser Arg Tyr Cys Leu Ser Ser Arg Leu Arg Val 115 120 125 Ser Ala Thr Phe Trp Gln Asn Pro Arg Asn His Phe Arg Cys Gln Val 130 135 140 Gln Phe Tyr Gly Leu Ser Glu Asn Asp Glu Trp Thr Gln Asp Arg Ala 145 150 155 160 Lys Pro Val Thr Gln Ile Val Ser Ala Glu Ala Trp Gly Arg Ala Asp 165 170 175 Cys Gly Phe Thr Ser Glu Ser Tyr Gln Gln Gly Val Leu Ser Ala Thr 180 185 190 Ile Leu Tyr Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Lys Ala Thr Leu Tyr Ala Val Leu 195 200 205 Val Ser Ala Leu Val Leu Met Ala Met Val Lys Arg Lys Asp Ser Arg 210 215 220 Gly 225 52 39 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(39) J alpha 2 (bases 84269 to 84334) 52 Leu Leu Phe Lys Val Gly Pro Val Ser Leu Cys Asn Gly Val Thr Tyr 1 5 10 15 Gly Met Asn Thr Gly Gly Thr Ile Asp Lys Leu Thr Phe Gly Lys Gly 20 25 30 Thr His Val Phe Ile Ile Ser 35 53 142 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(142) J alpha 3 (83376. To 83437), containing [SEQ ID NO18] 53 Leu Gln Gly Ile Glu Ala Ala Met Arg Glu Ala His Arg Pro Gly Glu 1 5 10 15 Asn Leu Gly Ser Thr Leu Thr Gly Cys Phe Gln Ser Leu His Phe Leu 20 25 30 Ser Ser Lys Met Thr Ile Thr Thr Ser Tyr Glu Ile Met Ala Arg Met 35 40 45 Lys Val Ile Asn Lys Leu Phe Asn Ile Ile Ile Ile Ile Ile Ile Glu 50 55 60 Ala Leu Leu Ile Leu Arg Phe Thr Leu Ser Arg Glu Arg Arg Ile Ala 65 70 75 80 Ser Leu Gly Asn Lys Arg Cys Lys Gln Gln Arg Pro Lys Glu Pro Phe 85 90 95 Arg Met Leu Leu Trp Asp Pro Ser Gly Phe Gln Gln Ile Ser Ile Lys 100 105 110 Lys Val Ile Ser Lys Thr Leu Pro Thr Val Gly Val Gln Gln Cys Phe 115 120 125 Gln Asp Asn Leu Trp Ile Arg Asp Gln Thr Gln His Pro Ala 130 135 140 54 162 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(162) J alpha 6 (79270 to 79331), containing [SEQ ID NO19], [SEQ ID NO20], [SEQ ID NO 21] 54 Gln Leu Gln Glu Lys Arg His Ile Lys Phe Pro Leu Leu Ser Val Leu 1 5 10 15 Ala Ala Leu Ser Glu Ala Pro Cys Ile Leu Lys Ser Ser Arg Ala Arg 20 25 30 Pro Ser Glu Cys Leu Pro Gln Ala Ser Arg Val Trp Cys Leu Tyr Trp 35 40 45 Gly Ala Gly Ser Arg His Gly Glu Leu Leu Pro Cys Phe Ser Ala Asp 50 55 60 Gly Lys Val Val Phe Ser Pro Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ala Lys Glu Leu Ser 65 70 75 80 Ser Pro Gln Pro Leu Ala Pro Ala Pro Gly Leu Gln His Ser Gly Ala 85 90 95 Leu Arg Thr Ala Val Gly Asp Phe Leu Gln Leu Arg Glu Tyr Ser Gly 100 105 110 Gly Phe Pro Arg Met Leu Pro Asn Thr Met Gly Gln Leu Val Glu Gly 115 120 125 Gly His Met Lys Gln Val Leu Ser Lys Ala Val Leu Thr Val Cys Ile 130 135 140 Arg Arg Lys Leu His Thr Tyr Ile Trp Lys Arg Asn Gln Pro Tyr Cys 145 150 155 160 Ser Ser 55 133 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(133) J alpha 8 (76346 to 76405), containing [SEQ ID NO22] 55 Ser Ile His Gly His His Ser Cys Lys Lys His Val Leu Thr Asn Ser 1 5 10 15 Val Trp Met Val Lys Leu Pro Val Leu Ser Arg Thr Glu Thr Leu Leu 20 25 30 Tyr Leu Phe Leu Glu Tyr His Phe Tyr Ile Thr Gln Gly Ile Gln Ser 35 40 45 Arg Ile Phe Ser Trp Val Leu Ser Asp Leu Leu Ser Ser Ser Asn Gly 50 55 60 Leu Arg Lys Ile Lys Val Lys Asp Met Pro Pro Thr Thr Leu Val His 65 70 75 80 Ala Cys Arg His Arg Asn Thr Leu Ser Asn Leu Ala Cys Asp Leu Ala 85 90 95 Ile Leu Ala Met Ala Gln Gln Gly Pro Ile Leu Tyr Arg Val Met Ser 100 105 110 Glu Cys Glu His Arg Leu Ser Glu Thr Cys Ile Trp Asn Trp His Pro 115 120 125 Thr Ser Gly Gln Ser 130 56 158 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(158) J alpha 9 (75756 to 75816), containing [SEQ ID NO23] 56 Gln Tyr Asn Ser Thr Arg Ala Leu Leu Cys Glu Leu Arg Asn Ala Gly 1 5 10 15 Arg His Phe Ala His Arg Thr Leu Ala Leu Arg Asp Ser Leu Lys Ile 20 25 30 Ser Ser Ser Pro Leu Phe Ile Phe Pro Ile Arg Lys Leu Arg Pro Arg 35 40 45 Glu Val Gly Ile Val Gly Gln Cys Glu Leu Gly Leu Gly Leu Glu Pro 50 55 60 Gly Asp Pro Gly Pro Gly Ala Ile Phe Cys Asp Cys Cys Leu Val Asn 65 70 75 80 Thr Ser Asp Arg Glu Val Val Met Leu Ile Asn Arg Lys Asn Lys Val 85 90 95 Leu Gln Gly Glu Tyr Lys Asn Val Leu Leu Ile Thr Ser Thr Leu Val 100 105 110 Ala Pro Thr Cys Ser Pro Ala Val Val Lys Trp Lys Glu Lys Glu Met 115 120 125 Ala His Phe Val Ala Val Gln Ile Thr Val Gly Asn Thr Gly Gly Phe 130 135 140 Lys Thr Ile Phe Gly Ala Gly Thr Arg Leu Phe Val Lys Ala 145 150 155 57 168 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(168) J alpha 11(72705 to 72765), containing [SEQ ID NO24] 57 Val Asn Ser Gly Tyr Ser Thr Leu Thr Phe Gly Lys Gly Thr Met Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Val Ser Pro Glu His Cys Tyr Ser Ser Asp Val Trp Phe Gln Lys 20 25 30 Asn Pro Asn Ile Ala Val Ile Pro Leu Lys Glu Gln Gly Arg Gly Phe 35 40 45 Phe Ser Glu Ser Ser Ser Asp Leu Ser Ile Leu Cys Gln Ser Val Leu 50 55 60 Trp Ile Gln Asp Thr Tyr Ile Phe Val Ser Ser Ala Gly Pro Thr Cys 65 70 75 80 Ser Ala Ser Asp His Leu Ser Leu Ile Cys Lys Met Arg Ile Ile Phe 85 90 95 Lys Leu Met Ala Gln Leu Lys Pro Lys Gly Ser Gly Ile Tyr Ala Asp 100 105 110 Tyr Ser Ile Trp Leu Ile Asn Glu Gly Phe Leu Ser Phe Ser Leu Cys 115 120 125 Arg Ser Trp Val Glu Ile Pro Asn Thr Ala Asn His Phe Cys Met Gly 130 135 140 Ile Cys Tyr Ser Val Asn Ser Gly Tyr Ser Thr Leu Thr Phe Gly Lys 145 150 155 160 Gly Thr Met Leu Leu Val Ser Pro 165 58 170 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(170) J alpha 13 (71282 to 71342), containing [SEQ ID NO25] 58 Asp Lys Ile Leu Glu Ser Ser Arg Lys Arg Gln Lys Val Trp Leu Ser 1 5 10 15 Thr Ser Ser Ser Ser Asp Leu Ala Leu Val Asn Leu Gly His Ser Ile 20 25 30 Phe Ile Tyr Lys Met Lys Thr Phe Asn Ile Thr Ser Asp Phe Leu Phe 35 40 45 Phe Cys Gly Tyr Ile Ile Gly Val Tyr Ile Tyr Phe Lys Asp Lys Leu 50 55 60 Ile Tyr Val Lys Val Phe Cys Lys Phe Leu Asn Ala Ile His Ser Glu 65 70 75 80 Asn Ile Ile Cys Leu Asn Lys Lys Asn Tyr Val Arg Phe Arg Ile Leu 85 90 95 Leu Thr Glu Phe Val Gly Ser Asn Ser His Leu His Val Ile Cys Ser 100 105 110 Pro Arg His Trp Lys Ala Leu Ser Leu Leu Leu Lys Tyr Ser Gly Ser 115 120 125 Asn Ala Thr Gln Met Lys Arg Ala Gly Glu Gly Lys Ser Phe Cys Lys 130 135 140 Gly Arg His Tyr Ser Val Asn Ser Gly Gly Tyr Gln Lys Val Thr Phe 145 150 155 160 Gly Ile Gly Thr Lys Leu Gln Val Ile Pro 165 170 59 163 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(163) J alpha 14 (70532 to 70583), containing [SEQ ID NO26] 59 Ser Tyr Ser Met Leu Leu Lys Lys Phe Leu Ile Glu Glu Arg Lys Ile 1 5 10 15 Ile Tyr Lys Asp Met Ser Asn Leu Leu Asn Ser Gly Lys Met Arg Leu 20 25 30 Cys Thr Gly Val Asp Ser Val Lys Met Gly Val Arg Ala Ala Ile Leu 35 40 45 Trp Leu Val Lys Gln Asp Tyr Leu Val Lys Leu Cys Lys Ser Pro Arg 50 55 60 Lys Lys Val Ser Glu Leu Ser Arg Glu Tyr His Leu Asp Cys Ser Gln 65 70 75 80 Ala Phe His Tyr Ile Tyr Cys Thr Thr Met Val Pro Lys Glu Ala Phe 85 90 95 Ser Gly Leu Ile Pro Trp Leu Ser Leu Tyr Ser Ser Ile Lys Lys Gly 100 105 110 Glu Ser Ser Gln Ser Ser His Glu Gly Asp Ser Cys Met Leu Thr Thr 115 120 125 Leu Ile Tyr Tyr Gln Gly Asn Ser Val Ile Phe Val Arg Gln His Ser 130 135 140 Ala Val Ile Tyr Ser Thr Phe Ile Phe Gly Ser Gly Thr Arg Leu Ser 145 150 155 160 Val Lys Pro 60 142 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(142) J alpha 24 (60203 to 60265), containing [SEQ ID NO27] 60 Lys Thr Ser Ser Tyr Leu Asn Asp Arg Ala Thr Val Val Ile Ser Cys 1 5 10 15 His Leu Ser Ser Ala Glu Asp Trp Val Pro Val Asn Ala Ala Gly Gly 20 25 30 Phe Leu Ser Leu Gln His Leu Lys Arg Thr Pro Arg Leu His Pro Gln 35 40 45 Gln Ser Gly Phe Leu Pro Leu Pro Pro Gly Arg Cys Ser Ser Trp His 50 55 60 Thr Pro Ser Leu Val Ser Lys Lys Arg Asn Lys Arg Lys Gly Glu Lys 65 70 75 80 Leu Ile Ser His Ile Met Gln Leu Pro His Phe Val Ala Arg Leu Phe 85 90 95 Pro His Glu Gln Phe Val Phe Ile Gln Gln Leu Ser Ser Leu Gly Lys 100 105 110 Pro Phe Cys Arg Gly Val Cys His Ser Val Thr Thr Asp Ser Trp Gly 115 120 125 Lys Leu Gln Phe Gly Ala Gly Thr Gln Val Val Val Thr Pro 130 135 140 61 176 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(176) J alpha 25 (59046 to 59105) 61 Gln Lys Asp Lys Ala Ser Pro Leu Ser Leu Gly Arg Gly Gln Gly Cys 1 5 10 15 Leu Ser Ser Gln Ala Gln Ala Gly Gly Arg Lys Leu Gly Val Phe Ala 20 25 30 Glu Pro Arg Asn Thr Val Gly Ile Thr Met Val Arg Ile Leu Ser Leu 35 40 45 Val Pro Glu Pro Asp Cys Pro Cys Cys Pro Val Ser Thr Val Lys Trp 50 55 60 Arg Lys Met Ser Pro Val Leu Asp Val Gly Arg Ser Cys Arg Val Leu 65 70 75 80 Arg Pro Gly Val His Arg Asp Leu Arg Ser Gly Asp Gly Glu Glu Gly 85 90 95 Lys Arg Asn Glu Lys Gln Asn His Lys Asp Asn Thr Glu Glu Gly Phe 100 105 110 Ile Phe Gly Lys Glu Asn His Lys Ala Val Leu Thr Leu Glu Glu Met 115 120 125 His Ser Phe Gly Gly Ser Leu Leu Arg Arg Ala Leu Cys Arg Gly Lys 130 135 140 Leu Ser Cys Val Phe Asp Ala Glu Ile Ile Thr Met Gln Lys Asp Lys 145 150 155 160 Ala Ser Pro Leu Ser Leu Gly Arg Gly Gln Gly Cys Leu Ser Ser Gln 165 170 175 62 141 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(141) J alpha 31 (51207 to 51263), containing [SEQ ID NO28] 62 Glu Leu Gly Trp Leu Cys Ser Trp Lys Ile Ser Leu Trp Val Glu Cys 1 5 10 15 Thr Val Pro Ser Asn Leu Cys Val Gly Ala His Thr Tyr Asp Ser Lys 20 25 30 Ser Cys Gln Ile Arg Phe Ser Phe Gly Ser Phe Met Pro Arg Asn Ala 35 40 45 Lys Glu Phe Lys Leu Ile Ser Leu Ala Phe Leu Lys Glu Thr Leu Phe 50 55 60 Ala Leu Cys Cys Arg Ala Asn Phe Ser Ser Tyr His Lys Arg Pro Glu 65 70 75 80 Thr Gln Arg Lys Gln Lys Lys Lys Arg Lys Lys Lys Lys Thr Gln Gly 85 90 95 Glu Ser Asn Cys Pro Leu Thr Thr Val Leu Cys Val Trp Gly Phe Thr 100 105 110 Met Gly Phe Ser Lys Gly Arg Lys Cys Cys Gly Asn Asn Asn Ala Arg 115 120 125 Leu Met Phe Gly Asp Gly Thr Gln Leu Val Val Lys Pro 130 135 140 63 148 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(148) J alpha 36 (45351 to 45411), containing [SEQ ID NO29] 63 Lys Leu Gly Ala Val Ser Leu Thr Cys Asn Leu Ser Ile Leu Glu Gly 1 5 10 15 Gly Arg Arg Ile Thr Gly Gln Glu Phe Lys Thr Thr Leu Gly Asn Thr 20 25 30 Val Arg Pro Pro Ser Leu Gln Lys Ile Asn Lys Asn Phe Phe Lys Asn 35 40 45 Ser Gln Ala Trp His Ala Pro Val Ile Leu Ala Thr Glu Glu Val Glu 50 55 60 Ala Gly Gly Ser Leu Val Pro Arg Arg Ser Arg Leu Gln Ala Lys Asn 65 70 75 80 Thr Pro Leu His Ser Ser Leu Asp Asn Lys Val Arg Ser Cys Leu Lys 85 90 95 Tyr Ile Phe Lys Asn Ile Lys Ile Ser Arg Arg Arg Lys Glu Met Lys 100 105 110 Lys Ile Trp Leu Ser Arg Lys Val Phe Leu Tyr Trp Ala Glu Thr Leu 115 120 125 Cys Gln Thr Gly Ala Asn Asn Leu Phe Phe Gly Thr Gly Thr Arg Leu 130 135 140 Thr Val Ile Pro 145 64 144 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(144) J alpha 40 (39930 to 39990), containing [SEQ ID NO30], [SEQ ID NO31], [SEQ ID NO32], [SEQ ID NO33] 64 Asn Tyr Lys Ile Met Ser Trp Val Cys Leu Cys Gly Ser Thr Gly Ser 1 5 10 15 Arg Gly Glu Ser Met Glu Tyr Phe Arg Gly Phe Asn Ser His Leu Asp 20 25 30 Ala Val Leu Ile Cys Ser Leu Asn Gln Thr Leu Leu Ile Asn Met His 35 40 45 Lys Asp Ser Met Arg Leu Lys Asn Phe Cys Lys Leu Gly Pro Asn Arg 50 55 60 Ser Ser Glu Asp Phe Leu Tyr Glu Leu Arg Tyr Asn Pro Lys Ile Thr 65 70 75 80 Cys Arg Lys Ile Arg Gly Gln Gly Leu Ser Met Gly Lys Val His Val 85 90 95 Met Pro Leu Leu Phe Met Glu Ser Lys Ala Ala Ser Ile Asn Gly Asn 100 105 110 Ile Met Leu Val Tyr Val Glu Thr His Asn Thr Val Thr Thr Ser Gly 115 120 125 Thr Tyr Lys Tyr Ile Phe Gly Thr Gly Thr Arg Leu Lys Val Leu Ala 130 135 140 65 152 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(152) J alpha 41 (37899 to 37961), containing [SEQ ID NO34], [SEQ ID NO35] 65 Gln Leu Leu Ser Leu Tyr Leu Pro Pro Thr Phe Thr Leu Glu Pro His 1 5 10 15 Arg Ile Val Ser Val His Ala Pro Gly Cys Ser Gln Ser Arg Pro Ala 20 25 30 Arg Arg Ser Ala Gly His Arg Lys Thr Pro Asp Phe Ile Thr Cys His 35 40 45 Arg Ala Pro Ser Leu Arg Trp Gln Ile Ser Ile Leu Ile Thr His Ile 50 55 60 Thr Val Gly Ser Gly Asp Leu Val Ser Asn Gly Leu Met Glu Glu Gly 65 70 75 80 Ser Phe Ile Tyr Thr Ile Lys Gly Pro Trp Met Thr His Ser Leu Cys 85 90 95 Asp Cys Cys Val Ile Gly Phe Gln Thr Leu Ala Leu Ile Gly Ile Ile 100 105 110 Gly Glu Gly Thr Trp Trp Leu Leu Gln Gly Val Phe Cys Leu Gly Arg 115 120 125 Thr His Cys Gly Thr Gln Ile Pro Gly Met His Ser Thr Ser Ala Lys 130 135 140 Ala Pro Arg Cys Trp Ser His Pro 145 150 66 141 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(141) J alpha 44 (35064 to 35126), containing [SEQ ID NO36] 66 Leu Gly Pro Ile Thr His Gln Val Gln Glu Gly Phe Ile Lys Ile Lys 1 5 10 15 Pro Arg Asn Arg Lys Asp Lys Glu Phe Asn Ser Gln Cys Leu Gln Ser 20 25 30 Thr Gln Leu Leu Ser Leu Asn His Leu Val Ser Thr Pro Pro Thr Glu 35 40 45 Val Lys Glu Gly Asn Gln Gln Val Met Leu Val Lys Val Ser Gly Gln 50 55 60 Ser Gln Leu Pro Ser Glu Leu Ile Leu Trp Ser Leu Gly Lys Gly Asn 65 70 75 80 Ala Ser Val Arg Ala His Pro Gly Cys Pro Ser Gly Arg Asp His Gly 85 90 95 Glu Ser Ser Glu Gly Ser Glu His Gln Met Glu Ser Gln Ala Thr Gly 100 105 110 Phe Cys Tyr Glu Ala Ser His Ser Val Asn Thr Gly Thr Ala Ser Lys 115 120 125 Leu Thr Phe Gly Thr Gly Thr Arg Leu Gln Val Thr Leu 130 135 140 67 678 DNA Homo sapiens Intron (1)..(90) intron 5 prime to J beta 2.3 67 atggggctct cagcggtggg aaggacccga gctgagtctg ggacagcaga gcgggcagca 60 ccggtttttg tcctgggcct ccaggctgtg agcacagata cgcagtattt tggcccaggc 120 acccggctga cagtgctcga ggacctgaaa aacgtgttcc cacccgaggt cgctgtgttt 180 gagccatcag aagcagagat ctcccacacc caaaaggcca cactggtgtg cctggccaca 240 ggcttctacc ccgaccacgt ggagctgagc tggtgggtga atgggaagga ggtgcacagt 300 ggggtcagca cagacccgca gcccctcaag gagcagcccg ccctcaatga ctccagatac 360 tgcctgagca gccgcctgag ggtctcggcc accttctggc agaacccccg caaccacttc 420 cgctgtcaag tccagttcta cgggctctcg gagaatgacg agtggaccca ggatagggcc 480 aaacccgtca cccagatcgt cagcgccgag gcctggggta gagcagactg tggcttcacc 540 tccgagtctt accagcaagg ggtcctgtct gccaccatcc tctatgagat cttgctaggg 600 aaggccacct tgtatgccgt gctggtcagt gccctcgtgc tgatggccat ggtcaagaga 660 aaggattcca gaggctag 678 68 225 PRT Homo sapiens 68 Met Gly Leu Ser Ala Val Gly Arg Thr Arg Ala Glu Ser Gly Thr Ala 1 5 10 15 Glu Arg Ala Ala Pro Val Phe Val Leu Gly Leu Gln Ala Val Ser Thr 20 25 30 Asp Thr Gln Tyr Phe Gly Pro Gly Thr Arg Leu Thr Val Leu Glu Asp 35 40 45 Leu Lys Asn Val Phe Pro Pro Glu Val Ala Val Phe Glu Pro Ser Glu 50 55 60 Ala Glu Ile Ser His Thr Gln Lys Ala Thr Leu Val Cys Leu Ala Thr 65 70 75 80 Gly Phe Tyr Pro Asp His Val Glu Leu Ser Trp Trp Val Asn Gly Lys 85 90 95 Glu Val His Ser Gly Val Ser Thr Asp Pro Gln Pro Leu Lys Glu Gln 100 105 110 Pro Ala Leu Asn Asp Ser Arg Tyr Cys Leu Ser Ser Arg Leu Arg Val 115 120 125 Ser Ala Thr Phe Trp Gln Asn Pro Arg Asn His Phe Arg Cys Gln Val 130 135 140 Gln Phe Tyr Gly Leu Ser Glu Asn Asp Glu Trp Thr Gln Asp Arg Ala 145 150 155 160 Lys Pro Val Thr Gln Ile Val Ser Ala Glu Ala Trp Gly Arg Ala Asp 165 170 175 Cys Gly Phe Thr Ser Glu Ser Tyr Gln Gln Gly Val Leu Ser Ala Thr 180 185 190 Ile Leu Tyr Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Lys Ala Thr Leu Tyr Ala Val Leu 195 200 205 Val Ser Ala Leu Val Leu Met Ala Met Val Lys Arg Lys Asp Ser Arg 210 215 220 Gly 225 69 20 DNA Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(20) exonic J beta 2.6 primer 69 ctatgaacag tacttcggtc 20 70 19 DNA Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(19) intronic J beta 2.6 primer 70 atgggagaat acctcgctg 19 71 19 DNA Mus musculus 71 ccctaaatgg gagaatacc 19 72 30 DNA Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(30) antisense primer C beate 3 72 catcctatca tcagggggtt ctgtctgcaa 30 73 29 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(29) sense primer 73 ccggaattcc atggggctct cagcggtgg 29 74 31 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(31) antisense primer 74 cgcggatccc tagcctctgg aatcctttct c 31 75 19 DNA Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(19) sense primer for CD3 epsilon 75 tgccctctag acagtgacg 19 76 19 DNA Mus musculus misc_feature (1)..(19) antisense primer for CD3 epsilon 76 cttccggttc cggttcgga 19 77 30 DNA Mus musculus 77 atgtgactcc acccaaggtc tccttgtttg 30 78 30 DNA Mus musculus 78 aaggctaccc tcgtgtgctt ggccaggggc 30 79 30 DNA Mus musculus 79 catcctatca tcagggggtt ctgtctgcaa 30 80 30 DNA Mus musculus 80 catcctatca tcagggggtt ctgtctgcaa 30 81 28 DNA Mus musculus 81 ttcagagtca aggtgtcaac gaggaagg 28 82 26 DNA Mus musculus 82 aagatcctcg gtctcaggac agcacc 26 83 30 DNA Mus musculus 83 actgtgctgg acatgaaagc tatggattcc 30 84 20 DNA Mus musculus 84 gatttaacct gctcatgacg 20 85 12 PRT Mus musculus 85 Arg Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Arg Gly Gly Leu His Asp 1 5 10 86 4 PRT Mus musculus 86 Met Met Leu Val 1 

1. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a transcript of a T cell receptor (TCR) gene, the polynucleotide lacking V region sequences and comprising a constant (C) domain and joining (J) region sequences, and a 5′ intronic J sequences upstream of the J region sequence including an in-frame methionine codon.
 2. The polynucleotide according to claim 1, wherein the gene is a TCRβ gene.
 3. The polynucleotide according to claim 2, wherein the joining (J) gene sequence is selected from Jβ2.1 and Jβ2.6.
 4. The polynucleotide according to claim 3, wherein the joining (J) gene sequence is Jβ2.1 and said 5′ intronic J sequence including an in-frame methionine codon codes for a peptide of the sequence M EN V S N P G S C I E E G E E R G R I L G S P F L [SEQ ID NO:1].
 5. The polynucleotide according to claim 3, wherein the joining (J) gene sequence is Jβ2.6 and said 5′ intronic J sequence including a methionine codon codes for a peptide of the sequence M G E Y L A E P R G F V C G V E P L C [SEQ ID NO:2].
 6. The polynucleotide according to claim 1, comprising a 5′ intronic J sequence encoding a peptide selected from any one of SEQ ID Nos: 1-37.
 7. The polynucleotide of claim 2 wherein the joining J gene sequence is the intronic Jβ2.3 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MGLSAVGRTRAESGTAERAAPVFVLGLQAV. [SEQ ID NO:17]


8. The polynucleotide according to claim 1, wherein the gene is a TCRα gene.
 9. The cDNA molecule according to claim 8, wherein the joining (J) gene sequence is selected from human or murine Jα genes.
 10. The cDNA molecule according to claim 9, wherein said 5′ intronic J sequence including an in-frame methionine codon is selected from the group consisting of: (i) the intronic JαTA31 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MAWH; [SEQ IN NO:3]

(ii) the intronic JαTA46 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MEAGWEVQHWVSDMECLTV; [SEQ IN NO:4]

(iii) the intronic JαTA46 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MECLTV; [SEQ IN NO:5]

(iv) the intronic JαNew05 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MTV; [SEQ IN NO:6]

(v) the intronic JαS58 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MCGSEEVFVVESA; [SEQ IN NO:7]

(vi) the intronic JαNew06 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MACYQMYFTGRKVDEPSELGSGLELSYFHTGGSSQAV [SEQ IN NO:8] GLFIENMISTSHGHFQEMQFSIWSFTVLQISAPGSHL VPETERAEGPGVFVEHDI;

(vii) the intronic JαNew06 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MYFTGRKVDEPSELGSGLELSYFHTGGSSQAVGLFIE [SEQ IN NO:9] NMISTSHGHFQEMQFSIWSFTVLQISAPGSHLVPETE RAEGPGVFVEHDI;

(viii) the intronic JαNew06 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MISTSHGHFQEMQFSIWSFTVLQISAPGSHLVPETE [SEQ IN NO:10] RAEGPGVFVEHDI;

(xi) the intronic JαNew06 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MQFSIWSFTVLQISAPGSHLVPETERAEGPGVFVEH [SEQ IN NO:11] DI;

(x) the intronic JαNew08 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MWWGLILSASVKFLQRKEILC; [SEQ IN NO:12]

(xi) the intronic JαLB2A gene sequence coding for the peptide: MVGADLCKGGWHCV; [SEQ IN NO:13]

(xii) the intronic JαDK1 gene sequence coding for the peptide: M R E P V K N L Q G L V S; [SEQ IN NO:14]

(xiii) the intronic JαTA39 gene sequence coding for the peptide: M E V Y E L R V T L M E T G R E R S [SEQ IN NO:15] H F V K T S L; and

(xvi) the intronic JαTA39 gene sequence coding for the peptide: M E T G R E R S H F V K T S L. [SEQ IN NO:16]


11. The polynucleotide according to claim 8, wherein 5′ intronic J sequence including an in-frame methionine codon is selected from the group consisting of: (i) the intronic Jα3 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MLLWDPSGFQQISIKKVISKTLPT; [SEQ IN NO: 18]

(ii) the intronic Jα6 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MLPNTMGQLVEGGHMKQVLSKAVLTV; [SEQ IN NO:19]

(iii) the intronic Jα6 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MGQLVEGGHMKQVLSKAVLTV; [SEQ IN NO:20]

(iv) the intronic Jα6 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MKQVLSKAVLTV; [SEQ IN NO:21]

(v) the intronic Jα8 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MSEC; [SEQ IN NO:22]

(vi) the intronic Jα9 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MAHFVAVQITV; [SEQ IN NO:23]

(vii) the intronic Jα11 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MGICYS; [SEQ IN NO:24]

(viii) the intronic Jα13 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MKRAGEGKSFCKGRHYSV; [SEQ IN NO:25]

(ix) the intronic Jα14 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MLTTLIYYQGNSVIFVRQHSA; [SEQ IN NO:26]

(x) the intronic Jα24 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MQLPHFVARLFPHEQFVFIQQLSSLGKPFCRGVCH [SEQ IN NO:27] SV;

(xi) the intronic Jα31 gene sequence coding for the peptide: M G F S K G R K C C G; [SEQ IN NO:28]

(xii) the intronic Jα36 gene sequence coding for the peptide: M K K I W L S R K V F L Y W A E T L; [SEQ IN NO:29]

(xiii) the intronic Jα40 gene sequence coding for the peptide: M G K V H V M P L L F M E S K A A S [SEQ IN NO:30] I N G N I M L V Y V E T H N T V;

(xiv) the intronic Jα40 gene sequence coding for the peptide: M P L L F M E S K A A S I N G N I M [SEQ IN NO:31] L V Y V E T H N T V;

(xv) the intronic Jα40 gene sequence coding for the peptide: M E S K A A S I N G N I M L V Y V E [SEQ IN NO:32] T H N T V;

(xvi) the intronic Jα40 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MLVYVETHNTV; [SEQ IN NO:33]

(xvii) the intronic Jα41 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MEEGSFIYTIKGPWMTHSLCDCCVIGFQTLALIGII [SEQ IN NO:34] GEGTWWLLQGVFCLGRTHC;

(xviii) the intronic Jα41 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MTHSLCDCCVIGFQTLALIGIIGEGTWWLLQGVFCL [SEQ IN NO:35] GRTHC and

(xix) the intronic Jα44 gene sequence coding for the peptide: MESQATGFCYEASHSV. [SEQ IN NO:36]


12. An antisense polynucleotide of the polynucleotides according to claim
 1. 13. An expression vector comprising a polynucleotide according to claim
 1. 14. A host cell comprising a vector according to claim 13, wherein the host is a mammalian cell.
 15. Transfected mesenchymal human cells according to claim
 14. 16. A polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide according to claims
 1. 17. A polynucleotide comprising SEQ ID NO:38 or SEQ ID NO:39.
 18. A synthetic peptide deduced from an intronic J sequence of a TCR.
 19. The synthetic peptide according to claim 18 selected from the group consisting of any one of SEQ ID Nos:1-16 or SEQ ID Nos. 17-36.
 20. An antibody raised against a peptide according to claim
 18. 21. An antibody raised against a peptide according to claim
 19. 22. A method for inducing mesenchymal cell growth comprising administering to a subject in need thereof transfected mesenchymal human cells comprising a polynucleotide according to claim 1, in an amount effective to induce mesenchymal cell growth.
 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the method induces wound healing.
 24. A method for suppressing mesenchymal cell growth comprising administering to a subject in need thereof transfected mesenchymal human cells comprising a DNA molecule according to claim 12, in an amount effective to suppress mesenchymal cell growth.
 25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the method suppresses carcinomas.
 26. A method of marking mesenchymal cells comprising applying an antibody according to claim 20 to mesenchymal cells in an amount effective to mark the cells. 